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Isolation of intestinal epithelial cells for the study of differential gene expression along the crypt-villus axis.

Methods for the differential isolation of intestinal epithelial cells from crypt and villus compartments of small intestine have been used in the study of intestinal functions. However, the use of different methods has resulted in discrepant conclusions as to the localization of expressed genes. Therefore, we undertook a careful comparison of two methods of intestinal epithelial cell isolation, the distended intestinal sac method and the everted intestinal sac method. The isolated cell fractions (distended sac fractions 1-10, everted sac fractions 1-5) were evaluated for the expression of two mRNAs whose localization along the crypt-villus axis had been previously elucidated by in situ hybridization: cytochrome P-450IIB1 (expressed in villus cells) and cryptdin (expressed in crypt cells). Northern blots of total or poly(A)+ RNA from each cell population showed that the first fractions from both methods contained P-450IIB1 mRNA, suggesting that both methods allowed the isolation of cells originating from the villus. Cryptdin mRNA was detected only in cell fractions 5-10 using the distended sac method and was not detected in any fractions from the everted sac method. [3H]thymidine incorporation demonstrated that dividing (crypt) cells were successfully removed by the distended sac method, but remained with the everted sac intestinal remnant. Finally, light and electron microscopy of the isolated cells as well as the intestinal remnants confirmed that while undifferentiated crypt cells were present in distended sac cell fractions 9 and 10, they remained with the everted sac remnant. Thus the distended sac protocol was useful for the isolation of cells from tip and crypt compartments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Perturbation by clofibrate of mitochondrial levels in animal cells. Implications for a model of mitochondrial genesis.

Dietary treatment of rats for 2 weeks with clofibrate (ethyl 2-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-methylproprionate), a hypolipidemic drug, increased the ratio of mitochondrial protein to cellular DNA by 2-fold, yet the recovery, purity, and structural integrity of mitochondria from treated livers were identical with the controls. Apparent half-lives of total protein in control and treated mitochondria were measured using [14C]bicarbonate as an amino acid precursor and were found to be the same. In a double label study, the relative half-lives of total mitochondrial proteins or mitochondrial inner membrane, matrix, or outer compartment proteins were compared in control and treated livers. In no case did drug treatment alter the apparent rates of degradation of protein. Coulter counting of the mitochondrial fraction revealed a 2-fold increase in counts relative to cellular DNA but counts per mg of mitochondrial protein were the same as control. Cytochrome spectra of mitochondria or purified inner membranes were not qualitatively different in control versus treated preparations. Sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoretic patterns of mitochondria or submitochondrial fractions were very similar for control and treated livers. Inner compartment marker enzymes were unchanged in specific activity, but monoamine oxidase, an outer compartment marker, was decreased in specific activity. Clofibrate treatment appears to result in an increased synthesis of the majority of mitochondrial protein. The effects of clofibrate are consistent with a model of mitochondrial turnover in which the control of outer compartment synthesis and degradation is different from that of the inner compartment. A model is proposed for mitochondrial genesis and degradation in normal and clofibrate-treated livers.

Animals↗

Persistent and transient replication of full-length hepatitis C virus genomes in cell culture.

The recently developed subgenomic hepatitis C virus (HCV) replicons were limited by the fact that the sequence encoding the structural proteins was missing. Therefore, important information about a possible influence of these proteins on replication and pathogenesis and about the mechanism of virus formation could not be obtained. Taking advantage of three cell culture-adaptive mutations that enhance RNA replication synergistically, we generated selectable full-length HCV genomes that amplify to high levels in the human hepatoma cell line Huh-7 and can be stably propagated for more than 6 months. The structural proteins are efficiently expressed, with the viral glycoproteins E1 and E2 forming heterodimers which are stable under nondenaturing conditions. No disulfide-linked glycoprotein aggregates were observed, suggesting that the envelope proteins fold productively. Electron microscopy studies indicate that cell lines harboring these full-length HCV RNAs contain lipid droplets. The majority of the core protein was found on the surfaces of these structures, whereas the glycoproteins appear to localize to the endoplasmic reticulum and cis-Golgi compartments. In agreement with this distribution, no endoglycosidase H-resistant forms of these proteins were detectable. In a search for the production of viral particles, we noticed that these cells release substantial amounts of nuclease-resistant HCV RNA-containing structures with a buoyant density of 1.04 to 1.1 g/ml in iodixanol gradients. The same observation was made in transient-replication assays using an authentic highly adapted full-length HCV genome that lacks heterologous sequences. However, the fact that comparable amounts of such RNA-containing structures were found in the supernatant of cells carrying subgenomic replicons demonstrates a nonspecific release independent of the presence of the structural proteins. These results suggest that Huh-7 cells lack host cell factors that are important for virus particle assembly and/or release.

Culture Media, Conditioned↗

New in situ approaches to study the induction of pollen embryogenesis in Capsicum annuum L.

The induction of pollen embryogenesis in Capsicum annuum L. has been studied at the cellular level using various in situ approaches with several molecular probes for DNA, RNA and proteins. The late vacuolated microspore and the young bicellular pollen grain are stages of gametophytic development in which embryogenesis can be induced. Our results show that the late vacuolated microspore stage is most responsive to embryogenesis induction. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) has been immunolocalized at the electron microscopy level, in order to map replication sites in relation to the fine structure of chromatin. It shows different patterns of labelling at both developmental stages studied, revealing that the late vacuolated microspore is in a period of replication. Other in situ studies have been performed to characterize the state of nuclear activity at the specific developmental stages in which the embryogenic induction can occur. The modern in situ terminal-deoxy-nucleotidyl transferase (TdT) reaction for DNA, the immunolocalization of various nuclear antigens (as snRNPs, fibrillarin, RNA) and the ultrastructural in situ hybridization using 18S and 25S ribosomal probes provided valuable data bout the specific features displayed by the functional nuclear compartments of the microspore, and the young vegetative and generative cells. They are related not only to the state of gene activity but also with probably the ability to switch to the sporophytic pathway at specific developmental times of their gametophytic program.

Capsicum↗

Hepatic stem cells.

The liver in an adult healthy body maintains a balance between cell gain and cell loss. Though normally proliferatively quiescent, hepatocyte loss such as that caused by partial hepatectomy, uncomplicated by virus infection or inflammation, invokes a rapid regenerative response to restore liver mass. This restoration of moderate cell loss and 'wear and tear' renewal is largely achieved by hepatocyte self-replication. Furthermore, hepatocyte transplants in animals have shown that a certain proportion of hepatocytes can undergo significant clonal expansion, suggesting that hepatocytes themselves are the functional stem cells of the liver. More severe liver injury can activate a potential stem cell compartment located within the intrahepatic biliary tree, giving rise to cords of bipotential so-called oval cells within the lobules that can differentiate into hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells. A third population of stem cells with hepatic potential resides in the bone marrow; these haematopoietic stem cells can contribute to the albeit low renewal rate of hepatocytes, make a more significant contribution to regeneration, and even completely restore normal function in a murine model of hereditary tyrosinaemia. How these three stem cell populations integrate together to achieve a homeostatic balance is not known. This review focuses on two major aspects of liver stem cell biology: firstly, the identity of the liver stem cells, and secondly, their potential value in the treatment of major liver disease.

Animals↗

Distribution of mucosubstances in adenoid cystic carcinoma.

The distribution of mucosubstances in adenoid cystic carcinoma was investigated, and an attempt was made to characterize histochemically the various mucosubstances present. For these purposes the high iron diamine technique (HID), as well as the Astra blue, aldehyde fuchsin and Alcian blue staining methods were employed. Alcian blue was further combined with the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) technique, the Alcian blue being applied at pH levels between 0.5 and 2.5. In addition the effect of neuraminidase and hyaluronidase treatment as well as methylation and acid hydrolysis procedures on the staining qualities were studied. Acidic mucosubstances with varying histochemical properties were present in different structures of the neoplasm. The characteristic pseudocyst, a major structural component of the neoplasm, stained strongly with HID, Astra blue, aldehyde fuchsin and Alcian blue at low pH. These staining reactions were markedly suppressed by hyaluronidase treatment, and are apparently attributable to the presence of chondroitin 4- and/or 6-sulfate. Employing the Alcian blue-critical electrolyte concentration technique, the basophilia of the pseudocysts was suppressed at a concentration of 0.5-0.6 M MgCl2, which might indicate polysaccharides of relatively low degree of sulfation. An additional, non-sulfated acid mucin could also be demonstrated in these structures. In certain duct and gland like structures of the tumours, a change in staining pattern from blue or blue-red to red could be observed after exposure of the sections to neuraminidase and subsequent staining with the Alcian blue (pH 2.5)-PAS sequence. Similar observations were also made when the pH of the Alcian blue was lowered to 1.5-1.0, as well as after acid hydrolysis. These findings afford evidence for the presence of a neuraminidase susceptive sialomucin in certain epithelial secretions of the tumor. At the ultrastructural level the replicated basement lamina of the pseudocysts displayed a strong positive reaction with the PA-CrA-silver staining technique. Furthermore, amorphous material within the lumina of small duct like structures also displayed a positive reaction. The amorphous material of the cystic compartments was less reactive.

Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic↗

Herpesvirus assembly: a tale of two membranes.

Herpes virions are amongst the most complex virus particles: they comprise in excess of thirty virally encoded proteins, and also contain cellular components. Capsid formation and the cleavage and encapsidation of replicated viral DNA occur in the nucleus and resemble similar processes in tailed dsDNA (double-stranded DNA) bacteriophages, which indicates they might have common ancestry. In contrast, final virion maturation takes place in the cytoplasm. Nucleocapsids gain access to this compartment by envelopment at the inner nuclear membrane, which involves the interaction between viral and cellular proteins in order to locally alter nuclear architecture. Fusion of the primary viral envelope with the outer nuclear membrane results in translocation of the nucleocapsid to the cytoplasm. Here, the majority of the tegument - a structure, composed of a multitude of different proteins, that links the capsid and the envelope - is added to nucleocapsids, which obtain their final envelope by budding into glycoprotein-containing Golgi-derived vesicles. Thus, herpesvirus morphogenesis proceeds in two different cellular compartments, involving different viral and cellular proteins.

Animals↗

Intracellular antibodies: development and therapeutic potential.

Single-chain antibodies, synthesized by the cell and targeted to a particular cellular compartment, can be used to interfere in a highly specific manner with cell growth and metabolism. Recent applications of this technology include the phenotypic knockout of growth-factor receptors, the functional inactivation of p21ras and the inhibition of HIV-1 replication. Intracellular antibodies are likely to have a widespread impact in biological research as a simple and effective alternative to other forms of gene inactivation; they demonstrate clear potential as reagents for cancer therapy and for the control of infectious diseases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The intramacrophagic environment of Brucella suis and bacterial response.

Phagocytes have developed various antimicrobial defense mechanisms to eliminate pathogens. They comprise the oxidative burst, acidification of phagosomes, or fusion of phagosomes with lysosomes. Facultative intracellular bacteria, in return, have developed strategies counteracting the host cell defense, resulting in intramacrophagic survival. Until lately, only very little was known about the phagosomal compartment containing Brucella spp., the environmental conditions the bacteria encounter, and the pathogen's stress response. Recently, we have determined that the phagosomes acidify rapidly to a pH of 4.0-4.5 following infection, but this early acidification is crucial for intracellular replication as neutralization results in bacterial elimination. A vacuolar proton-ATPase is responsible for this phenomenon that is not linked to phagosome-lysosome fusion. On the contrary, in vitro reconstitution assays revealed association only between phagosomes containing killed B. suis and lysosomes, describing the absence of phagolysosome fusion due to specific recognition inhibition for live bacteria. Further evidence for the necessity of an intact, acidic phagosome as a predominant niche of brucellae in macrophages was obtained with a strain of B. suis secreting listeriolysin. It partially disrupts the phagosomal membranes and fails to multiply intracellularly. How does B. suis adapt to this environment? We have identified and studied a series of genes that are involved in this process of adaptation. The bacterial heat shock protein and chaperone DnaK is induced in phagocytes and it is essential for intracellular multiplication. A low-level, constitutive expression of dnaK following promoter exchange does not restore intramacrophagic survival. Another chaperone and heat shock protein, ClpB, belonging to the family of ClpATPases, is important for the resistance of B. suis to several in vitro stresses, but does not contribute to intramacrophagic survival of the pathogen. Additional bacterial genes specifically induced within the phagocyte were identified by an intramacrophagic screen of random promoter fusions to the reporter gene gfp. A large majority of these genes are encoding proteins involved in transport of nutrients (sugars, amino acids), or cofactors, such as nickel. Analysis of the intracellular gene activation reveals that low oxygen tension is encountered by B. suis. Altogether, these results suggest three major stress conditions encountered by brucellae in the phagosome: acid stress, starvation and low oxygen tension.

Animals↗

Power, selection bias and predictive performance of the Population Pharmacokinetic Covariate Model.

Identification and quantification of covariate relations is often an important part of population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modelling. The covariate model is regularly built in a stepwise manner. With such methods, selection bias may be a problem if only statistically significant covariates are accepted into the model. Competition between multiple covariates may further increase selection bias, especially when there is a moderate to high correlation between the covariates. This can also result in a loss of power to find the true covariates. The aim of this simulation study was to investigate the effect on power, selection bias and predictive performance of the covariate model, when altering study design and system-related quantities. Data sets with 20-1000 subjects were investigated. Five covariates were created by sampling from a multivariate standard normal distribution. The true covariate was set up to have no, low, moderate and high correlation to the other four covariates, respectively. Data sets, in which each individual had two or three PK observations, were simulated using a one-compartment i.v. bolus model. The true covariate influenced clearance according to one of several magnitudes. Different magnitudes of residual error and inter-individual variability in the structural model parameters were also introduced to the simulation model. A total of 7400 replicate data sets were simulated independently for each combination of the above conditions. Models with one of the five simulated covariates influencing clearance and the model without any covariate were fitted to the data. The probability of selecting (according to a pre-specified P-value) the different covariates, along with the estimated covariate coefficient, was recorded. The results show that selection bias is very high for small data sets (< or = 50 subjects) simulated with a weak covariate effect. If selected under these circumstances, the covariate coefficient is on average estimated to be more than twice its true value, making the covariate model useless for predictive purposes. Surprisingly, even though competition from false covariates caused substantial loss in the power of selecting the true covariate, the already high selection bias increased only marginally. This means that the bias due to competition is negligible if statistical significance is also required for covariate selection. Bias and predictive performance are direct functions of power, only indirectly affected by study design and system-related quantities. Mainly because of selection bias, low-powered covariates can be expected to harm the predictive performance when selected. For the same reason these low-powered covariates may falsely appear to be clinically relevant when selected. If the aim of an analysis is predictive modelling, we do not recommend stepwise selection or significance testing of covariates to be performed on small or moderately sized data sets (<50-100 subjects).

Computer Simulation↗

Actin-gated intracellular growth and resurgence of uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Strains of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) can invade terminally differentiated superficial bladder epithelial cells and subsequently multiply, forming large biofilm-like inclusions referred to as pods. In contrast, within immature bladder cells UPEC enter a more quiescent state and often fail to replicate appreciably. As immature bladder epithelial cells undergo terminal differentiation the actin cytoskeleton is radically diminished, a phenomenon that we reasoned could influence the intracellular fate of UPEC. Here we show that UPEC within undifferentiated bladder cells is trafficked into acidic compartments having key features of late endosomes and lysosomes. These UPEC-containing vacuoles are often enmeshed within a network of actin filaments, the disruption of which stimulates intravacuolar growth and efflux of UPEC in cell culture-based studies. In this in vitro model system, release of UPEC into the host cytosol further stimulates intracellular bacterial growth and the rapid development of pod-like inclusions. These inclusions, as well as those observed using an in vivo mouse model, develop in association with cytokeratin intermediate filaments that may act as scaffolding for intracellular biofilm formation. Our data suggest an aetiological basis for recurrent urinary tract infections, linking bladder cell differentiation and the accompanying redistribution of actin microfilaments with the resurgence of UPEC from quiescent intravacuolar reservoirs within the bladder epithelium.

Actins↗

Preferential activity of Tie2 promoter in arteriolar endothelium.

The tyrosine kinase Tie2/Tek (the receptor for angiopoietins) is considered one of the most reliable markers of the endothelial phenotype, across organisms, organs, and developmental stages. However, endothelium is intrinsically heterogeneous in origin, composition and function, presenting an arteriolar/venular asymmetry. In this regard, the expression of Tie2 along the vascular tree, although thought to be homogenous, has not been systematically investigated. Therefore we questioned whether the activity of Tie2 promoter is uniform in the microvascular endothelium. To this end, we analyzed in situ the expression of the markers beta-galactosidase [LacZ(Tie2)] and green fluorescent protein (GFP) [GFP(Tie2)], placed under the Tie2 promoter in transgenic mice, in whole mount tissue samples, which allow the simultaneous evaluation of its relative distribution in various microvascular compartments. In the mesenteries of LacZ(Tie2) and GFP(Tie2) mice, we found that the activity of Tie2 promoter is asymmetrically distributed, being much stronger in arteries and arterioles than on the venular side of the vascular tree. This observation was replicated in the diaphragm of LacZ(Tie2) mice. The capillaries presented a mosaic pattern of Tie2 promoter activity. Stimulation of angiogenesis either by wounding, or by intraperitoneal injection of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), revealed that the arteriolar/venular asymmetry is established at endothelial cellular level early during new capillary formation, even before the starting of the microvascular blood flow. In conclusion, a strong Tie2 promoter activity qualifies as a novel marker of the arteriolar phenotype in microvascular endothelium.

Animals↗

The coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus nucleoprotein localizes to the nucleolus.

The coronavirus nucleoprotein (N) has been reported to be involved in various aspects of virus replication. We examined by confocal microscopy the subcellular localization of the avian infectious bronchitis virus N protein both in the absence and in the context of an infected cell and found that N protein localizes both to the cytoplasmic and nucleolar compartments.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The thymus. Finally getting some respect.

The thymus gland is no longer a structure in the anterior mediastinum of questionable use in the body economy. It is the sole source of cells that control the immune response and provide protection from life-threatening pathogens. Its primary function is to seed the periphery with mature T cells. Because these cells can maintain their numbers through self-replication, thymic function essentially is completed within the first few years of life. In response to a lack of need for its services, the thymus thereupon undergoes involution. A demand for renewed thymopoiesis has become necessary as the T-cell compartment of the immune system must be replenished following massive depletion of T cells by disease (e.g., AIDS) or the demands of cytoreduction necessary to achieve successful bone marrow transplantation. In older patients with AIDS (> 20-30 years), re-expansion of the post-thymic population may be adequate to restore the patient to reasonable or even normal T-cell immunity, but when the cytoablation is as massive as seen with bone marrow transplant conditioning regimens, the thymus must contribute to the repopulation. If involution has proceeded too far, thymic output must be augmented. This augmentation can be accomplished by thymus transplantation. The techniques for successful thymus transplantation in adults, however, have yet to be perfected. The thymus can play a major role in determining the response to MHC products of others (i.e., nonself). Novel manipulations of the thymus are being used to achieve transplant tolerance.

Adult↗

Two-step nature of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 replication in experimentally infected squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus).

After experimental infection of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-infected cells, the virus is transcribed only transiently in circulating blood, spleen, and lymph nodes. Stable disappearance of viral expression occurs at 2 to 3 weeks after inoculation. This coincides with the development of the anti-HTLV-1 immune response and persistent detection of the provirus in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In this study, the HTLV-1 replication pattern was analyzed over time in PBMCs and various organs from two HTLV-1-infected squirrel monkeys. Real-time quantitative PCR confirmed that PBMCs and lymphoid organs constitute the major reservoirs for HTLV-1. The PCR amplification of HTLV-1 flanking sequences from PBMCs evidenced a pattern of clonal expansion of infected cells identical to that observed in humans. Dissemination of the virus in body compartments appeared to result from cellular transport of the integrated provirus. The circulating proviral burden increased as a function of time in one animal studied over a period of 4 years. The high proviral loads observed in the last samples resulted from the accumulation of infected cells via the extensive proliferation of a restricted number of persistent clones on a background of polyclonally expanded HTLV-1-positive cells. Therefore, HTLV-1 primary infection in squirrel monkeys is a two-step process involving a transient phase of reverse transcription followed by persistent multiplication of infected cells. This suggests that the choice of the target for blocking HTLV-1 replication might depend on the stage of infection.

Animals↗

Stable expression of noncytopathic Kunjin replicons simulates both ultrastructural and biochemical characteristics observed during replication of Kunjin virus.

This report focuses mainly on the characterization of a Vero cell line stably expressing the flavivirus Kunjin (KUN) replicon C20SDrep (C20SDrepVero). We showed by immunofluorescence and cryoimmunoelectron microscopy that unique flavivirus-induced membrane structures, termed convoluted membranes/paracrystalline structures, were induced in the C20SDrepVero cells. These induced cytoplasmic foci were immunolabeled with KUN virus anti-NS3 antibodies and with antibodies to the cellular markers ERGIC53 (for the intermediate compartment) and protein disulfide isomerase (for the rough endoplasmic reticulum). However, in contrast to the large perinuclear inclusions observed by immunofluorescence with anti-double-stranded (ds)RNA antibodies in KUN virus-infected cells, the dsRNA in C20SDrepVero cells was localized to small isolated foci scattered throughout the cytoplasm, which were coincident with small foci dual-labeled with the trans-Golgi specific marker GalT. Importantly, persistent expression of the KUN replicons in cells did not produce cytopathic effects, and the morphology of major host organelles (including Golgi, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and nucleus) was apparently unaffected. The amounts of plus- and minus-sense RNA synthesis in replicon cells were similar to those in KUN virus-infected cells until near the end of the latent period, but subsequently increases of about 10- and fourfold, respectively, occurred in infected cells. Virus-specified protein synthesis in C20SDrepVero cells was also about 10-fold greater than that in infected cells. When several KUN replicon cell lines were compared with respect to membrane induction, the relative efficiencies increased in parallel with increases in viral RNA and protein synthesis, consistent with the increases observed during the virus infectious cycle. Based on these observations, cell lines expressing less-efficient replicons may provide a useful tool to study early events in flavivirus RNA replication, which are difficult to assess in virus infections.

Animals↗

Intracellular localization of the peanut clump virus replication complex in tobacco BY-2 protoplasts containing green fluorescent protein-labeled endoplasmic reticulum or Golgi apparatus.

RNA-1 of Peanut clump virus (PCV) encodes the proteins P131 and P191, containing the signature motifs of replication proteins, and P15, which regulates viral RNA accumulation. In PCV-infected protoplasts both P131 and P191 were immunodetected in the perinuclear region. Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) showed that P131 and P191 colocalized with neosynthesized 5-bromouridine 5'-triphosphate-labeled RNA and double-stranded RNA, demonstrating that they belong to the replication complex. On the contrary, the P15 fused to the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) never colocalized with the two proteins. In endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-GFP transgenic BY-2 protoplasts, the distribution of the green fluorescent-labeled ER was strongly modified by PCV infection. LSCM showed that both P131 and P191 colocalized with ER green fluorescent bodies accumulating around the nucleus during infection. The replication process was not inhibited by cerulenin and brefeldin A, suggesting that PCV replication does not depend on de novo-synthesized membrane and does not require transport through the Golgi apparatus. Electron microscopy of ultrathin sections of infected protoplasts showed aggregates of broken ER but also visualized vesicles, some of which resembled modified peroxisomes. The results suggest that accumulation of PCV during infection is accompanied by specific association of PCV RNA-1-encoded proteins with membranes of the ER and other organelles. The concomitant extensive rearrangement of these membranous structures leads to the formation of intracellular compartments in which synthesis and accumulation of the viral RNA occur in defined areas.

Arachis↗

Virus-induced transient bone marrow aplasia: major role of interferon-alpha/beta during acute infection with the noncytopathic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus.

The hematologic consequences of infection with the noncytopathic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) were studied in wild-type mice with inherent variations in their interferon (IFN)-alpha/beta responder ability and in mutant mice lacking alpha/beta (IFN-alpha/beta R0/0) or gamma IFN (IFN-gamma R0/0) receptors. During the first week of infection, wild type mice demonstrated a transient pancytopenia. Within a given genetic background, the extent of the blood cell abnormalities did not correlate with the virulence of the LCMV isolate but variations were detected between different mouse strains: they were found to depend on their IFN-alpha/beta responder phenotype. Whereas IFN-gamma R0/0 mice were comparable to wild-type mice, IFN-alpha/beta R0/0 mice exhibited unchanged peripheral blood values during acute LCMV infection. In parallel, the bone marrow (BM) cellularity, the pluripotential and committed progenitor compartments were up to 30-fold reduced in wild type and IFN-gamma R0/0, but remained unchanged in IFN-alpha/beta R0/0 mice. Viral titers in BM 3 d after LCMV infection were similar in these mice, but antigen localization was different. Viral antigen was predominantly confined to stromal BM in normal mice and IFN-gamma R0/0 knockouts, whereas, in IFN-alpha/beta R0/0 mice, LCMV was detected in > 90% of megakaryocytes and 10-15% of myeloid precursors, but not in erythroblasts Although IFN-alpha/beta efficiently prevented viral replication in potentially susceptible hematopoietic cells, even in overwhelming LCMV infection, unlimited virus multiplication in platelet and myeloid precursors in IFN-alpha/beta R0/0 mice did not interfere with the number of circulating blood cells. Natural killer (NK) cell expansion and activity in the BM was comparable on day 3 after infection in mutant and control mice. Adaptive immune responses did not play a major role because comparable kinetics of LCMV-induced pancytopenia and transient depletion of the pluripotential and committed progenitor compartments were observed in CD8(0/0) and CD4(0/0) mice, in mice depleted of NK cells, in lpr mice, and in perforin-deficient (P0/0) mice lacking lytic NK cells. Thus, the reversible depression of hematopoiesis during early LCMV infection was not mediated by LCMV-WE-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte, cytolysis, or secreted IFN-gamma from virally induced NK cells but was a direct effect of IFN-alpha/beta.

Acute Disease↗