Induction of alpha/beta interferon by myxoma virus is selectively abrogated when primary mouse embryo fibroblasts become immortalized.
Mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) are a widely used cell culture system in life sciences, including virology. Here, we show that although primary MEFs are nonpermissive to myxoma virus replication, the corresponding immortalized MEFs support a highly productive myxoma virus infection. We further demonstrate that this permissive phenotype for myxoma virus in immortalized MEFs is due to the immortalization-associated selective block to the cellular alpha/beta interferon induction machinery involved in responding to myxoma virus challenge. Thus, our report presents a clear example, illustrating that a drastic phenotypic alteration can occur with respect to virus infection between primary cells and their immortalized counterparts.
Wang
Fuan
F
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, BioTherapeutics Research Group, Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Barrett
John W
JW
Ma
Yiyue
Y
Dekaban
Gregory A
GA
McFadden
Grant
G
D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D009233:Myxoma virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; C494080:Stat1 protein, mouse; D016899:Interferon-beta