title: Neurotropism of Saffold virus in a mouse model.
abstract: Saffold virus (SAFV) is a highly seroprevalent human Cardiovirus discovered recently. No clear association between SAFV infection and human disease has been established. Rare infection cases, however, correlated with neurological symptoms. To gain insight into the pathogenesis potential of the virus, we performed experimental mouse infection with SAFV strains of genotypes 2 and 3 (SAFV-2 and SAFV-3). After intraperitoneal infection, both strains exhibited a typical Cardiovirus tropism. Viral load was most prominent in the pancreas. Heart, spleen, brain and spinal cord were also infected. In IFN-receptor 1 deficient (IFNAR-KO) mice, SAFV-3 caused a severe encephalitis. The virus was detected by immunohistochemistry in many parts of the brain and spinal cord, both in neurons and astrocytes, but astrocyte infection was more extensive. In vitro, SAFV-3 also infected astrocytes better than neurons in mixed primary cultures. Astrocytes were, however, very efficiently protected by IFN-α/β treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sorgeloos
authors.affiliation: de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, VIRO B1.74.07, 74 Avenue Hippocrate, Brussels B-1200, Belgium.
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lardinois
authors.affiliation: de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, VIRO B1.74.07, 74 Avenue Hippocrate, Brussels B-1200, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.affiliation: Moleculaire Virologie, Universiteit Utrecht, Yalelaan 1 Kamer W.512, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Frank J M
authors.initials: FJM
authors.lastname: van Kuppeveld
authors.affiliation: Institut für Tierphysiologie, Veterinärstr 13, 80539 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kaspers
authors.affiliation: de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, VIRO B1.74.07, 74 Avenue Hippocrate, Brussels B-1200, Belgium.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Michiels
mesh_terms: D000825:Animal Structures / Q000821:virology; D000818:Animals; D018188:Cardiovirus Infections / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008853:Microscopy; D009420:Nervous System / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D017945:Theilovirus / Q000502:physiology*; D019562:Viral Load; D056189:Viral Tropism