title: Porcine circovirus-2 capsid protein induces cell death in PK15 cells.
abstract: Studies have shown that Porcine circovirus (PCV)-2 induces apoptosis in PK15 cells. Here we report that cell death is induced in PCV2b-infected PK15 cells that express Capsid (Cap) protein and this effect is enhanced in interferon gamma (IFN-γ)-treated cells. We further show that transient PCV2a and 2b-Cap protein expression induces cell death in PK15 cells at rate similar to PCV2 infection, regardless of Cap protein localization. These data suggest that Cap protein may have the capacity to trigger different signaling pathways involved in cell death. Although further investigation is needed to gain deeper insights into the nature of the pathways involved in Cap-induced cell death, this study provides evidence that PCV2-induced cell death in kidney epithelial PK15 cells can be mapped to the Cap protein and establishes the need for future research regarding the role of Cap-induced cell death in PCV2 pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Rupali
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walia
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: rdardari@ucalgary.ca.
authors.forename: Rkia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dardari
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chaiyakul
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Czub
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D017925:Circovirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / Q000502:physiology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D021381:Protein Transport; D013552:Swine; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: Capsid protein; Cell death; PCV2