Abstract |
The mouse eosinophil-associated ribonucleases (mEars) are species specific, divergent orthologs of the human antiviral RNase A ribonucleases, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin ( RNase 2) and eosinophil cationic protein ( RNase 3). We show here that mEar 2 is also an antiviral ribonuclease, as micromolar concentrations promote a approximately sixfold reduction in the infectivity of pneumonia virus of mice (PVM) for target respiratory epithelial cells in vitro. Although initially identified as a component of eosinophilic leukocytes, mEar 2 mRNA and protein were also detected in lung tissue accompanied by enzymatically active mEar 2 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). At t=3 days post-inoculation with PVM (strain J3666), we observed the characteristic inflammatory response accompanied by diminished expression of total mEar mRNA and protein in lung tissue and a corresponding fivefold drop in ribonuclease activity in BALF. No change in mEar expression was observed in response to infection with PVM strain 15, a replication-competent strain of PVM that does not elicit a cellular inflammatory response. However, mEar expression is not directly dependent on inflammation per se, as diminished expression of mEar mRNA and BAL ribonuclease activity were also observed in PVM-infected, inflammation-deficient, MIP-1alpha -/- mice. We propose that this mechanism may represent a novel virus-mediated evasion strategy, with a mechanism that is linked in some fashion to virus-specific pathogenicity.
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Authors | Joanne M Moreau, Kimberly D Dyer, Cynthia A Bonville, Takeaki Nitto, Nora L Vasquez, Andrew J Easton, Joseph B Domachowske, Helene F Rosenberg |
Journal | Antiviral research
(Antiviral Res)
Vol. 59
Issue 3
Pg. 181-91
(Aug 2003)
ISSN: 0166-3542 [Print] Netherlands |
PMID | 12927308
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Antiviral Agents
- RNA, Messenger
- Ribonucleases
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Topics |
- Animals
- Antiviral Agents
(metabolism)
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
(immunology)
- Eosinophils
(enzymology, immunology)
- Inflammation
(immunology)
- Lung
(enzymology, immunology)
- Mice
- Murine pneumonia virus
(pathogenicity)
- Pneumovirus Infections
(physiopathology, virology)
- RNA, Messenger
(metabolism)
- Ribonucleases
(genetics, metabolism)
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