Interaction of severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus with dendritic cells.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) of humans is caused by a novel coronavirus of zoonotic origin termed SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). The virus induces severe injury of lung tissue, as well as lymphopenia and destruction of the architecture of lymphatic tissue by as-yet-unknown mechanisms. In this study, the interaction of SARS-CoV with dendritic cells (DCs), the key regulators of immune responses, was analysed. Monocyte-derived DCs were infected with SARS-CoV and analysed for viability, surface-marker expression and alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) induction. SARS-CoV infection was monitored by quantitative RT-PCR, immunofluorescence analysis and recovery experiments. SARS-CoV infected both immature and mature DCs, although replication efficiency was low. Immature DCs were activated by SARS-CoV infection and by UV-inactivated SARS-CoV. Infected DCs were still viable on day 6 post-infection, but major histocompatibility complex class I upregulation was missing, indicating that DC function was impaired. Additionally, SARS-CoV infection induced a delayed activation of IFN-alpha expression. Therefore, it is concluded that SARS-CoV has the ability to circumvent both the innate and the adaptive immune systems.
Spiegel
Martin
M
Institute for Virology, University of Goettingen, Kreuzbergring 57, 37075 Goettingen, Germany.
Schneider
Kerstin
K
Department of Virology, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Strasse 11, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
Weber
Friedemann
F
Department of Virology, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Strasse 11, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
Weidmann
Manfred
M
Institute for Virology, University of Goettingen, Kreuzbergring 57, 37075 Goettingen, Germany.
Hufert
Frank T
FT
Institute for Virology, University of Goettingen, Kreuzbergring 57, 37075 Goettingen, Germany.
D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis; D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010641:Phenotype; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D014779:Virus Replication
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D004279:DNA, Viral; D016898:Interferon-alpha