Inhibition of apoptosis prevents West Nile virus induced cell death
2007

How West Nile Virus Causes Cell Death

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Malte C Kleinschmidt, Martin Michaelis, Henry Ogbomo, Hans-Wilhelm Doerr, Jindrich Cinatl Jr

Primary Institution: Institute for Medical Virology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University

Hypothesis

Does West Nile virus infection induce apoptosis in human brain-derived cells?

Conclusion

WNV infection leads to cell death in T98G cells through apoptosis involving both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways.

Supporting Evidence

  • WNV infection activates caspases, leading to apoptosis in T98G cells.
  • Inhibition of caspases prevents WNV-induced cell death without affecting virus replication.
  • The study shows that both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways are involved in WNV-induced apoptosis.

Takeaway

West Nile virus can make brain cells die by causing them to go through a process called apoptosis, which is like a programmed cell death.

Methodology

The study used WNV-infected glioma cells to analyze virus replication and apoptosis induction.

Limitations

The study was conducted in vitro, which may not fully represent in vivo conditions.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2180-7-49

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