title: Transcriptional profiling of Vero E6 cells over-expressing SARS-CoV S2 subunit: insights on viral regulation of apoptosis and proliferation.
abstract: We have previously demonstrated that over-expression of spike protein (S) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) or its C-terminal subunit (S2) is sufficient to induce apoptosis in vitro. To further investigate the possible roles of S2 in SARS-CoV-induced apoptosis and pathogenesis of SARS, we characterized the host expression profiles induced upon S2 over-expression in Vero E6 cells by oligonucleotide microarray analysis. Possible activation of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in S2 expressing cells was suggested, as evidenced by the up-regulation of cytochrome c and down-regulation of the Bcl-2 family anti-apoptotic members. Inhibition of Bcl-2-related anti-apoptotic pathway was further supported by the diminution of S2-induced apoptosis in Vero E6 cells over-expressing Bcl-xL. In addition, modulation of CCN E2 and CDKN 1A implied the possible control of cell cycle arrest at G1/S phase. This study is expected to extend our understanding on the pathogenesis of SARS at a molecular level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Kadoorie Biological Science Building, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. ysyeung@graduate.hku.hk
authors.forename: Yin-Shan
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Chi-Wai
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Chung-Chau
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hon
authors.forename: Ken Y C
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Iris C M
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Fanya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Frederick C C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000821:virology*; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D014709:Vero Cells; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D021122:Protein Subunits; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins