Cytokine mRNA expression and pathological findings in pigs inoculated with African swine fever virus (E-70) deleted on A238L.
African swine fever virus (ASFV) induces a variety of immune responses and clinical forms in domestic pigs. As it is the only member of the Asfarviridae family, ASFV encodes many novel genes not encoded by other virus families. Among these genes, A238L may regulate the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines, controlled mainly by NFkappaB and NFAT pathways. In this study, we inoculated two groups of pigs, one with the ASFV highly virulent E-70 isolate, deleted on A238L gene, and the other group with the parental E-70 isolate. No significant differences were observed in the clinical signs or pathology between both groups. However, the TNF-alpha mRNA expression was strongly enhanced in the PBMC from pigs inoculated with the virus deleted in A238L, reinforcing the role of the A238L gene in the inhibition of the NFkappaB pathway of expression of cytokines. No up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines was observed in the PBMC of animals inoculated with the E-70 isolate, even though apoptosis and haemorrhages were evident and might be related to the presence of bystander monocyte-macrophages expressing these cytokines. Other studies using ASFV deleted in other genes inoculated in the natural hosts should be performed to gain further insight into the role of these genes in the pathogenesis of ASF.
Salguero
F J
FJ
Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, CISA-INIA, Carretera Algete-El Casar s/n, Valdeolmos, 28130 Madrid, Spain. fjsbodes@hotmail.com
Gil
S
S
Revilla
Y
Y
Gallardo
C
C
Arias
M
M
Martins
C
C
D000357:African Swine Fever / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D000358:African Swine Fever Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling / Q000662:veterinary; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D013552:Swine; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014766:Viremia / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology
C113585:A238L protein, African swine fever virus; D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014764:Viral Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines