Bovine herpesvirus type 1 induces cell death by a cell-type-dependent fashion

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1). a member of the alpha-herpesvirinae sub-family, causes significant losses to the cattle industry. BHV-1 establishes latency in trigeminal ganglionic sensory neurons. but periodically reactivates from latency. Previous studies suggested that infection with BHV-1-induced novel morphological changes ill rabbit skill (RS) Cells versus bovine kidney cells (MDBK). Consequently, we hypothesized that viral infection led to a novel form of cell death ill RS cells compared to MDBK cells. To test this hypothesis. we examined the levels of apoptosis ill these cell types following infection with BHV-1. Infection of RS. but not MDBK, cells leads to high levels of apoptosis compared to mock-infected cells. Previous studies indicated that a BHV-1 recombinant virus that does not express the bICP0 protein grows poorly in permissive cells and induces a persistent-like infection. This suggested that bICP0 played in important role in regulating Cell death following, infection. To test this hypothesis. we compared the levels of apoptosis ill cells infected with the bICP0 null mutant versus strains that expressed bICP0. The bICP0 null mutant induces low levels of apoptosis ill RS or MDBK cells. When MDBK cells are treated with UV light prior to infection. bICP0 expressing viral strains. but not the bICP0 null mutant. inhibited UV-induced apoptosis. Infection of MDBK cells with the bICP0 null mutant. leads to an accumulation of autophagosomes that dire not detected following, infection with bICP0 expressing viruses. studies suggest null mutant induces These that the protein autophagy in MDBK cells. and bICP0 protein expression mediates cell-type specific cytotoxicity, (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.