title: Latent gammaherpesvirus 68 infection induces distinct transcriptional changes in different organs.
abstract: Previous studies identified a role for latent herpesvirus infection in cross-protection against infection and exacerbation of chronic inflammatory diseases. Here, we identified more than 500 genes differentially expressed in spleens, livers, or brains of mice latently infected with gammaherpesvirus 68 and found that distinct sets of genes linked to different pathways were altered in the spleen compared to those in the liver. Several of the most differentially expressed latency-specific genes (e.g., the gamma interferon [IFN-γ], Cxcl9, and Ccl5 genes) are associated with known latency-specific phenotypes. Chronic herpesvirus infection, therefore, significantly alters the transcriptional status of host organs. We speculate that such changes may influence host physiology, the status of the immune system, and disease susceptibility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Susan P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Canny
authors.forename: Gautam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.forename: Tiffany A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Reese
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ramnik
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xavier
authors.forename: Herbert W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Virgin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D018142:Gammaherpesvirinae / Q000502:physiology*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D017735:Virus Latency
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers