Gene expression of the TGF-beta family in rat brain infected with Borna disease virus.
CRNP5, a variant of Borna disease virus (BDV), has stronger pathogenesis in rats than the related variant CRP3, although only 4 amino acids in the whole genome are different. As a first step to clarify the differential pathogenesis between the variants, the present study focused on examining the expression of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta family in the brain of rats infected with BDV. The main results were as follows. (1) BDV infection, irrespective of the variant, up-regulates TGF-beta1 expression in the brain, (2) the expressions of signal receptors for TGF-beta1 are also increased, (3) the expression of brain inhibin/activin betaE is up-regulated by BDV infection, and (4) the expression of brain inhibin/activin betaC tends to be higher in rats exhibiting severe Borna disease. These results indicate that members of the TGF-beta family are involved in neuronal disorders induced by BDV infection in a ligand-dependent manner. In particular, up-regulation of inhibin/activin betaC may be a key event responsible for induction of the stronger pathogenesis of the CRNP5 variant of BDV.
Laboratory of Veterinary Immunology, Azabu University School of Veterinary Medicine, Sagamihara 229-8501, Japan. nishino@azabu-u.ac.jp
Yoshii
Y
Nishino
Ryo
R
Ooishi
Sachiko
S
Kurokawa
Kan
K
Fujino
Masaru
M
Murakami
Hiroo
H
Madarame
Osamu
O
Hashimoto
Kazutoshi
K
Sugiyama
Masayuki
M
Funaba
D000818:Animals; D001890:Borna Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D001891:Borna disease virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004679:Encephalomyelitis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D015870:Gene Expression; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II