title: Bcl-2 inhibits the caspase-dependent apoptosis induced by SARS-CoV without affecting virus replication kinetics.
abstract: Vero cells transfected with either neo- or bcl-2-plasmid were infected with SARS-CoV at a high multiplicity of infection. Apoptosis appeared after the onset of CPE and completion of virus replication, and could be prevented by Bcl-2 expression. Apoptosis is likely mediated by the mitochondrial pathway, as demonstrated by its inhibition using Bcl-2, and by the activation of the caspase cascade, resulting in PARP cleavage. Prevention of apoptosis did not affect susceptibility to infection, kinetics and extent of viral replication and release, thus implying that apoptosis is not involved in facilitating release and/or dissemination of SARS-CoV in Vero cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases INMI L. Spallanzani, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bordi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castilletti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Falasca
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ciccosanti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calcaterra
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rozera
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Caro
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zaniratti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ippolito
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piacentini
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Capobianchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014709:Vero Cells; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D020169:Caspases