title: Tissue-specific transcription profile of cytokine and chemokine genes associated with flavivirus control and non-lethal neuropathogenesis in rabbits.
abstract: We previously showed that New Zealand White (NZWRs) and cottontail rabbits (CTRs) are a suitable model for studying immune mechanisms behind virus control and non-lethal neuropathogenesis associated with West Nile virus (WNV) and Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) infections. In the current study, we observed that MVEV infection induced high IFNα, TNFα, IL6, and CXCL10 transcript levels in the brains of weanling NZWRs, unlike infection with the less virulent WNVNSW2011. These transcript levels also correlated with encephalitis severity. Widespread STAT1 protein expression in brain with moderate neuropathology suggests that IFN-I signaling is crucial for limiting neural infection and mediating non-lethal neuropathogenesis. Unlike NZWRs, CTRs limit neuroinvasion without upregulation of many cytokine/chemokine transcripts, suggesting a species-dependent virus control mechanism. However, the common IFNγ, TNFα and IL6 transcript upregulation in specific lymphoid organs suggest some conserved elements in the response against flaviviruses, unique to all rabbits.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia. Electronic address: w.suen@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Willy W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Suen
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia. Electronic address: m.uddin2@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Muhammad Jasim
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Uddin
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia. Electronic address: Natalie.Prow@qimrberghofer.edu.au.
authors.forename: Natalie A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Prow
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA. Electronic address: rbowen@rams.colostate.edu.
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia. Electronic address: roy.hall@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Roy A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia; Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia. Electronic address: h.bielefeldtohmann1@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Helle
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bielefeldt-Ohmann
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000820:Animal Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D018925:Chemokines / Q000235:genetics; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005416:Flavivirus / Q000502:physiology*; D018177:Flavivirus Infections / Q000662:veterinary*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000235:genetics; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000662:veterinary*; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000235:genetics; D011817:Rabbits; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics; D012737:Sex Factors; D013045:Species Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D016328:NF-kappa B; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor
keywords: Chemokine; Cytokine; Flavivirus; Murray Valley encephalitis virus; Neuropathogenesis; Rabbit; Virus control; West Nile virus