title: Potential role of HPA axis and sympathetic nervous responses in depletion of B cells induced by H9N2 avian influenza virus infection.
abstract: Except severe pulmonary disease caused by influenza virus infection, an impaired immune system is also a clinic characteristic. However, the mechanism(s) of influenza virus infection-induced depletion of B cells was unknown. Here, we compared the effect of two variant virulence H9N2 virus infections on mouse B cells. Our study found that the infection with highly pathogenic virus (V) of led to depletion of spleen B cells and bone marrow (BM) early B cells, compared to lowly pathogenic virus (Ts). Moreover, high apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in spleen and BM were detected, suggesting important factors for the reduction of B cells in both organs. Further, this effect was not caused by virus replication in spleen and BM. Compared to Ts virus infection, V virus resulted in higher glucocorticoids (GCs) and lower leptin level in plasma. Intraperitoneal GCs receptor antagonist RU486 injection was sufficient to prevent the loss of spleen B cell and BM pro- and immature B cells, but similar result was not observed in leptin-treated mice. Depletion of spleen B cells and BM pro-B cells was also reversed by chemical sympathectomy mediated by the norepinephrine (NE) analog 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), but the treatment didn't affect the GCs level. This study demonstrated that depletion of B cells induced by H9N2 AIV was dependent on HPA axis and sympathetic response.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wenbao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Changhui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Zhangyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.forename: Peirong
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002645:Chickens; D005260:Female; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D007107:Immune System / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D053127:Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D006854:Hydrocortisone