非结构蛋白1(nonstructural protein 1,NS1)是甲型流感病毒一种重要的调控蛋白,与病毒的毒力密切相关.本文检测了不同亚型流感病毒NS1蛋白在酵母菌细胞中的基因转录激活能力.将携带NS1基因的诱饵载体与空的猎物载体共转化AH109和Y187酵母菌细胞,观察AH109在QDO培养基上的生长情况,以X-α-gal为底物检测其分泌α-半乳糖苷酶的能力;通过ONPG实验定量分析Y187酵母菌细胞β-半乳糖苷酶活性的强弱.结果发现转化H1N1,H5N1和H9N2亚型流感病毒NS1基因的AH109酵母菌细胞能够在QDO培养基上生长,并分泌高水平的α-半乳糖苷酶.同时这些基因转化的Y187酵母菌细胞具有很强的β-半乳糖苷酶活性.与此相反,H3N2亚型流感病毒NS1基因转化AH109和Y187后,上述实验结果均为阴性.这说明H1N1,H5N1和H9N2亚型的NS1蛋白具有刺激酵母菌细胞基因转录的功能,而H3N2亚型的NS1蛋白缺乏这种能力,表明NS1蛋白型别的不同可造成其生物学活性的差异.
Patients with an influenza virus infection can be complicated by acute encephalopathy and encephalitis. To investigate the immune reactions involved in the neurocomplication, mouse microglia and astrocytes were isolated, infected with human H1N1 and avian H5N1 influenza viruses, and examined for their immune responses. We observed homogeneously distributed viral receptors, sialic acid （SA）-a2,3-Galactose （Gal） and SA-a2,6-Gal, on microglia and astrocytes. Both viruses were replicative and productive in microglia and astrocytes. Virus-induced apoptosis and cytopathy in infected cells were observed at 24 h post-infection （p.i.）. Expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-a mRNA examined at 6 h and 24 h p.i. was up-regulated, and their expression levels were considerably higher in H5N1 infection. The amounts of secreted proinflammatory IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-a at 6 h and 24 h p.i. were also induced, with greater induction by H5N1 infection. This study is the first demonstration that both human H1N1 and avian H5N1 influenza viruses can infect mouse microglia and astrocytes and induce apoptosis, cytopathy, and proinflammatory cytokine production in them in vitro. Our results suggest that the direct cellular damage and the consequences of immunopathological injury in the CNS contribute to the influenza viral pathogenesis. Cellular ＆ Molecular Immunology.
Gefei WangJuan ZhangWeizhong LiYun SuYuanli GaoHeng ZhangGuimei LinXiaoyang JiaoKangsheng Li
Non-structural protein 1(NS1)is an important virulence factor of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus.A five-amino-acid(5 aa)deletion at position 80–84 and an aspartic acid to glutamic acid substitution at position 92(D92E)are two major NS1 mutations that are highly correlated with enhanced virulence.To investigate the effect of these mutations in H5N1 virulence,three H5N1-NS1 variants were constructed:NS51(lacking 5 aa at position 80–84),NS51(I)(carrying a 5-aa insertion at position 80–84)and NS51(IM)(carrying both the 5-aa insertion and the D92E mutation).We examined the effects of these mutations on interferon(IFN)induction,tumor-necrosis factor(TNF)a response,p53 activity and apoptosis.We found that the D92E mutation eliminated NS1’s repressive effect on IFN induction,while the 5-aa deletion resulted in enhanced resistance to TNFa responses.We also observed that all three variants exhibited a similar suppressive effect on p53 transcriptional activity,although none of them significantly influenced apoptosis of host cells.Our findings shed new light on the role of NS1 in the pathogenicity of H5N1 virus.
Influenza A virus NS1 protein is an important regulatory factor with multiple functions and contributes greatly to viral pathogenesis.In the present study,transcription-activating potential of NS1 from different influenza A virus subtypes was examined in yeast two-hybrid system.The bait vectors contain-ing different NS1 genes,along with an empty prey vector,were transformed into yeast AH109(for growth assay on QDO plate and α-galactosidase assay),and Y187(for β-galactosidase assay).AH109 transformants with NS1 gene from H1N1,H5N1,and H9N2 viruses grew vigorously on the QDO plate and secreted high level of α-galactosidase.Also,Y187 bearing the above NS1 genes exhibited en-hanced β-galactosidase activity.Nevertheless,H3N2-NS1-transformed AH109 and Y187 yeasts did not grow on QDO plate and secrete β-galactosidase,respectively.These findings denote the remarkable variation in NS1 proteins from different influenza A virus subtypes on the transcription-stimulating capability in yeast.
LI WeiZhong,WANG GeFei,ZENG Jun,ZHANG DanGui,ZHANG Heng,CHEN XiaoXuan,CHEN YouYing & Li KangSheng Department of Microbiology and Immunology,Shantou University Medical College,Shantou 515041,China
