Newcastle disease virus Malaysian strain AF2240 induces apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells at an early stage of the virus life cycle

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) AF2240 Malaysian strain is a very virulent avian virus. NDV strain AF2240 was previously demonstrated to induce apoptosis in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells. However, at which stage of the NDV life cycle apoptosis is induced and whether NDV replication and protein synthesis are involved in apoptosis induction have yet to be determined. In the present study, we investigated the time course of NDV strain AF2240 nucleoprotein (NP) gene expression and the early apoptotic signs in the form of activation of caspase-8 and mitochondrial transition pore opening. In addition, the induction of apoptosis by both ultraviolet-inactivated and cycloheximide-treated NDV-infected MCF-7 cells were examined. Our findings showed that NDV strain AF2240 induced apoptosis at 1 h post-infection (pi) through activation of mitochondrial transition pore opening and at 2 h through activation of caspase-8, while the NP gene was expressed at 6 h pi. The induced apoptosis was independent of both virus replication and protein synthesis. In conclusion, NDV strain AF2240 induces apoptosis at an early stage of its life cycle, possibly during virus binding or fusion with the cell membrane. The mitochondrial-related pathway may be the central activator in NDV strain AF2240-induced apoptosis.