RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is an alphavirus in the family Togaviridae. VEEV causes a bi-phasic illness in mice where primary replication in lymphoid organs is followed by entry into the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS phase of infection is marked by encephalitis and large scale neuronal death ultimately resulting in death. Molecular determinants of VEEV neurovirulence are not well understood. In this study, host gene expression response to highly neurovirulent VEEV (V3000 strain) infection was compared with that of a partially neurovirulent VEEV (V3034 strain) to identify host factors associated with VEEV neurovirulence. METHODS: Whole genome microarrays were performed to identify the significantly modulated genes. Microarray observations were classified into three categories i.e., genes that were similarly modulated against both V3000 and V3034 infections, and genes that were uniquely modulated in infection with V3034 or V3000. Histologic sections of spleen and brain were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin stains from all the mice. RESULTS: V3000 infection induced a greater degree of pathology in both the spleen and brain tissue of infected mice compared to V3034 infection. Genes commonly modulated in the spleens after V3000 or V3034 infection were associated with innate immune responses, inflammation and antigen presentation, however, V3000 induced a gene response profile that suggests a stronger inflammatory and apoptotic response compared to V3034. In the brain, both the strains of VEEV induced an innate immune response reflected by an upregulation of the genes involved in antigen presentation, interferon response, and inflammation. Similar to the spleen, V3000 was found to induce a stronger inflammatory response than V3034 in terms of induction of pro-inflammatory genes and associated pathways. Ccl2, Ccl5, Ccl6, and Ly6 were uniquely upregulated in V3000 infected mouse brains and correlated with the extensive inflammation observed in the brain. CONCLUSION: The common gene profile identified from V3000 and V3034 exposure can help in understanding a generalized host response to VEEV infection. Inflammatory genes that were uniquely identified in mouse brains with V3000 infection will help in better understanding the lethal neurovirulence of VEEV. Future studies are needed to explore the roles played by the genes identified in VEEV induced encephalitis.
Assuntos
Vírus da Encefalite Equina Venezuelana/patogenicidade , Encefalomielite Equina Venezuelana/virologia , Interações Hospedeiro-Patógeno/genética , Animais , Apresentação de Antígeno , Encéfalo/patologia , Encéfalo/virologia , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos , Baço/patologia , Baço/virologia , Regulação para CimaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The focal facial dermal dysplasias (FFDDs) are a group of inherited disorders of facial development, characterised by bitemporal or preauricular scar-like defects, the former resembling 'forceps marks'. Recently, different homozygous TWIST2 nonsense mutations were reported in unrelated Setleis syndrome (FFDD Type III) patients from consanguineous families, consistent with autosomal recessive inheritance. Mexican-Nahua sibs with facial and ophthalmologic features of FFDD type III were evaluated. METHODS: Genomic DNAs were isolated for sequencing of the TWIST2 gene. The clinical features and inheritance of all previously reported FFDD patients were reviewed. RESULTS: The affected sibs were homozygous for a novel TWIST2 frameshift mutation, c.168delC (p.S57AfsX45). Notably, both parents and two heterozygous sibs had distichiasis and partial absence of lower eyelashes. The FFDD subtypes were reclassified: the 'Brauer-Setleis' phenotype (autosomal dominant with variable expressivity) as FFDD type II; and patients with preauricular lesions as a new subtype, FFDD type IV. CONCLUSIONS: FFDD type III heterozygotes with TWIST2 mutations may have syndromic manifestations. Review of previous FFDD patients resulted in reclassification of the subtypes.