Brn-3a suppresses pseudorabies virus-induced cell death in sensory neurons.
Sensory neurons of the trigeminal ganglion (TG) are of crucial importance in the pathogenesis of many alphaherpesviruses, constituting major target cells for latency and reactivation events. We showed earlier that a subpopulation of porcine TG neurons, in contrast to other porcine cell types, is highly resistant to cell death induced by infection with the porcine alphaherpesvirus pseudorabies virus (PRV). Here, we report that expression of Brn-3a, a neuron-specific transcription factor implicated in cell survival of sensory neurons, correlates with the increased resistance of TG neurons towards PRV-induced cell death. In addition, overexpression of Brn-3a in the sensory neuronal cell line ND7 markedly increased resistance of these cells to PRV-induced cell death. Hence, Brn-3a may play a hitherto uncharacterized role in protection of sensory neurons from alphaherpesvirus-induced cell death, which may have implications for different aspects of the alphaherpesvirus life cycle, including latency/reactivation events.
Geenen
Kristin
K
Laboratory of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Nauwynck
Hans J
HJ
Laboratory of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
De Regge
Nick
N
Laboratory of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Braeckmans
Kevin
K
Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Ghent University, Harelbekestraat 72, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Favoreel
Herman W
HW
Laboratory of Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.|Laboratory of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015870:Gene Expression; D011558:Herpesvirus 1, Suid / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology*; D051381:Rats; D013552:Swine; D050819:Transcription Factor Brn-3A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology*
D050819:Transcription Factor Brn-3A