title: Caspase 9 is essential for herpes simplex virus type 2-induced apoptosis in T cells.
abstract: Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) induces apoptosis in T cells by a caspase-dependent mechanism. Apoptosis can occur via extrinsic (death receptor) and/or intrinsic (mitochondrial) pathways. Here, we show that the initiator caspase for the intrinsic pathway is activated in T cells following HSV-2 exposure. To determine the respective contributions of intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, we assessed apoptosis in Jurkat cells that are deficient in caspase 8 or Fas-associating protein with death domain (FADD) for the extrinsic pathway and in cells deficient in caspase 9 for the intrinsic pathway. Our results indicate HSV-2-induced apoptosis in T cells occurs via the intrinsic pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Center for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Translational Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Vanden Oever
authors.forename: Jin-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D053200:Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D053200:Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein; D009842:Oligopeptides; C403754:benzyloxycarbonyl-leucyl-glutamyl-histidyl-aspartic acid fluoromethyl ketone; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9