title: Induction of transcription factor Egr-1 gene expression in astrocytoma cells by Murine coronavirus infection.
abstract: Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) causes encephalitis and demyelination in the central nervous system (CNS) of susceptible rodents. Astrocytes are one of the major targets for MHV infection in the CNS, and respond to MHV infection by expressing diverse molecules that may contribute to CNS pathogenesis. Here we characterized the activation of an immediate-early transcription factor Egr-1 by MHV infection in an astrocytoma cell line. We found that the expression of Egr-1 was dramatically increased following virus infection. Using various inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinases, we identified that the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 were involved in the activation of Egr-1 transcription by MHV infection. Experiments with ultraviolet light-inactivated virus revealed that the induction of Egr-1 did not require virus replication and was likely mediated during cell entry. We further found that over-expression of Egr-1 suppressed the expression of BNip3, a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family. This finding may provide an explanation for our previously observed down-regulation of BNip3 by MHV infection in astrocytoma cells (Cai, Liu, Yu, and Zhang, Virology 316:104-115, 2003). Furthermore, knockdown of Egr-1 by an siRNA inhibited MHV propagation, suggesting the biological relevance of Egr-1 induction to virus replication. In addition, the persistence/demylinating-positive strains (JHM and A59) induced Egr-1 expression, whereas the persistence/demylinating-negative strain (MHV-2) did not. These results indicate a correlation between the ability of MHVs to induce Egr-1 expression and their ability to cause demyelination in the CNS, which may suggest a potential role for the induction of Egr-1 in viral pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham Street, Slot 511, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
authors.forename: Yingyun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xuming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019677:Artificial Gene Fusion; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D020868:Gene Silencing; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D008156:Luciferases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006517:Murine hepatitis virus / Q000502:physiology*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D053586:Virus Internalization; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: C508686:BNip3 protein, mouse; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; C486109:Egr1 protein, mouse; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D008156:Luciferases; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases