C1qa deficiency in mice increases susceptibility to mouse hepatitis virus A59 infection.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) A59 is a highly infectious pathogen and starts in the respiratory tract and progresses to systemic infection in laboratory mice. The complement system is an important part of the host immune response to viral infection. It is not clear the role of the classical complement pathway in MHV infection.

OBJECTIVES:

The purpose of this study was to determine the importance of the classical pathway in coronavirus pathogenesis by comparing C1qa KO mice and wild-type mice.

METHODS:

We generated a C1qa KO mouse using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and compared the susceptibility to MHV A59 infection between C1qa KO and wild-type mice. Histopathological and immunohistochemical changes, viral loads, and chemokine expressions in both mice were measured.

RESULTS:

MHV A59-infected C1qa KO mice showed severe histopathological changes, such as hepatocellular necrosis and interstitial pneumonia, compared to MHV A59-infected wild-type mice. Virus copy numbers in the olfactory bulb, liver, and lungs of C1qa KO mice were significantly higher than those of wild-type mice. The increase in viral copy numbers in C1qa KO mice was consistent with the histopathologic changes in organs. These results indicate that C1qa deficiency enhances susceptibility to MHV A59 systemic infection in mice. In addition, this enhanced susceptibility effect is associated with dramatic elevations in spleen IFN-γ, MIP-1 α, and MCP-1 in C1qa KO mice.

CONCLUSIONS:

These data suggest that C1qa deficiency enhances susceptibility to MHV A59 systemic infection, and activation of the classical complement pathway may be important for protecting the host against MHV A59 infection.

• Authors: Han Woong Kim, Sun Min Seo, Jun Young Kim, Jae Hoon Lee, Han Woong Lee, Yang Kyu Choi
• Journal: Journal of veterinary science (J Vet Sci) Vol. 22 Issue 3 Pg. e36 (May 2021) ISSN: 1976-555X [Electronic] Korea (South)
• PMID: 34056877 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2021 The Korean Society of Veterinary Science.

Chemical References

• C1qa protein, mouse
• Complement C1q

Topics

• Animals
• Complement C1q (deficiency)
• Complement Pathway, Classical
• Coronavirus Infections (genetics, veterinary)
• Disease Susceptibility (veterinary, virology)
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease
• Hepatitis, Viral, Animal (genetics)
• Mice
• Mice, Knockout
• Murine hepatitis virus (physiology)