title: Encephalomyocarditis virus induces PKR-independent mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in macrophages.
abstract: In this study, we provide evidence that the double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) is not required for virus-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) or the activation of specific signaling pathways in macrophages. The infection of RAW264.7 cells with encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) induces iNOS expression and nitric oxide production, which are unaffected by a dominant-negative mutant of PKR. EMCV infection also activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase, cyclic AMP response element binding protein, and nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) signaling cascades at 15 to 30 min postinfection in PKR+/+ and PKR-/- macrophages. Activation of these signaling cascades does not temporally correlate with PKR activity or the accumulation of EMCV RNA, suggesting that an interaction between a structural component of the virion and the cell surface may activate macrophages. Consistent with this hypothesis, empty EMCV capsids induced comparable levels of iNOS expression, nitrite production, and activation of these signaling cascades to those induced by intact virions. These findings support the hypothesis that virion-host cell interactions are primary mediators of the PKR-independent activation of signaling pathways that participate in the macrophage antiviral response of inflammatory gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Edward A. Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1402 South Grand Boulevard, Saint Louis, MO 63104, USA.
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Moxley
authors.forename: R Mark L
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Buller
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Corbett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004686:Encephalomyocarditis virus / Q000502:physiology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000502:physiology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014779:Virus Replication; D019892:eIF-2 Kinase / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; D019892:eIF-2 Kinase; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases