The mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis is triggered during feline calicivirus infection.
Feline calicivirus (FCV) belongs to the family Caliciviridae and is an important pathogen of the upper respiratory tract of cats. Recent studies have shown that cells infected with FCV undergo apoptosis, as evidenced by caspase activation, chromatin condensation and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Here, the upstream events were investigated in order to define the molecular mechanism of apoptosis in FCV-infected cells. It was shown that FCV induced translocation of phosphatidylserine to the cell outer membrane and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria at about 6-8 h post-infection. These events were preceded by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and Bax translocation from the cytosol to mitochondria between 4 and 6 h after infection. Release of cytochrome c from mitochondria triggered the activation of caspase-9 and the subsequent activation of the executioner caspase, caspase-3. These results suggest that the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis is triggered during FCV infection.
Natoni
Alessandro
A
School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK.
Kass
George E N
GEN
School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK.
Carter
Michael J
MJ
School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK.
Roberts
Lisa O
LO
School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK.
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D017927:Calicivirus, Feline / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D020169:Caspases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002415:Cats; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D007668:Kidney; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*
D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D003574:Cytochrome c Group; D020169:Caspases