title: Human cytomegalovirus induces caspase-dependent apoptosis of megakaryocytic CHRF-288-11 cells by activating the JNK pathway.
abstract: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is usually implicated in thrombocytopenia occurring in newborns and immunocompromised patients. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of HCMV infection on the viability of megakaryocytic CHRF-288-11 cells and the underlying mechanisms involved. RT-PCR for determining mRNA expression of HCMV immediate early gene 1 and Western blot for measuring protein expression of late HCMV gene pp65 showed that CHRF-288-11 cells were susceptible to HCMV infection. HCMV infection reduced the viability of CHRF-288-11 cells via apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Both caspase 3 and c-Jun terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway were activated in the HCMV-treated CHRF-288-11 cells. z-DEVD-fmk (a caspase inhibitor) and SP600125 (a JNK inhibitor) significantly prevented the death of CHRF-288-11 cells induced by HCMV, respectively. Furthermore, inhibition of JNK activity could reduce the formation of active caspase 3 induced by HCMV. Interestingly, the co-application of antivirus drug ganciclovir and SP600125 synergistically prevented the death of CHRF-288-11 cells induced by HCMV. Collectively, these findings suggest that HCMV infection may induce the caspase-dependent apoptosis of megakaryocytic CHRF-288-11 cells by the activation of JNK signaling pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. doujuan89@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dou
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shunye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Qingwen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiaobing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Yuping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wenming
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yifan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000873:Anthracenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008533:Megakaryocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D009842:Oligopeptides; C110772:benzoylcarbonyl-aspartyl-glutamyl-valyl-aspartyl-fluoromethyl ketone; C432165:pyrazolanthrone; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D015774:Ganciclovir