title: IFN-dependent and -independent reduction in West Nile virus infectivity in human dermal fibroblasts.
abstract: Although dermal fibroblasts are one of the first cell types exposed to West Nile virus (WNV) during a blood meal by an infected mosquito, little is known about WNV replication within this cell type. Here, we demonstrate that neuroinvasive, WNV-New York (WNV-NY), and nonneuroinvasive, WNV-Australia (WNV-AUS60) strains are able to infect and replicate in primary human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). However, WNV-AUS60 replication and spread within HDFs was reduced compared to that of WNV-NY due to an interferon (IFN)-independent reduction in viral infectivity early in infection. Additionally, replication of both strains was constrained late in infection by an IFN-β-dependent reduction in particle infectivity. Overall, our data indicates that human dermal fibroblasts are capable of supporting WNV replication; however, the low infectivity of particles produced from HDFs late in infection suggests that this cell type likely plays a limited role as a viral reservoir in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, College Park, MD 20742, USA. linjaian@umd.edu.
authors.forename: Lisa I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Hoover
authors.affiliation: Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, College Park, MD 20742, USA. bfreder@umd.edu.
authors.forename: Brenda L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Fredericksen
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000276:immunology*; D056189:Viral Tropism; D014779:Virus Replication; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007372:Interferons