ARS | Publication request: GLOBAL GENE EXPRESSION PROFILING OF BOVINE LYMPHOID CELLS FOLLOWING INFECTION WITH BVDV TYPE 2

Submitted to: Ruminant Pestiviruses Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: September 14, 2005
Publication Date: September 14, 2005
Citation: Neill, J.D., Ridpath, J.F. 2005. Global gene expression profiling of bovine lymphoid cells following infection with BVDV type 2 [abstract]. 6th Pestiviruses Symposium. Paper No. T4-6. p. 43.

Technical Abstract: In livestock production settings, infection with noncytopathic BVDV results in a transient lymphopenia and immunosuppression that can increase the severity of secondary infections with other viruses or bacteria. The lymphopenia is especially notable with the virulent BVDV type 2 strains that cause severe acute disease. Immunosuppression leads to greater death loss, productivity loss and higher veterinary treatment costs to producers. The mechanisms by which BVDV causes lymphopenia and immunosuppression are unknown. We have employed serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE), a powerful method for global gene expression analysis, to examine gene expression changes in bovine lymphoid cells following infection with noncytopathic BVDV type 2. For this study, we used the bovine B cell lymphoma cell line BL3. We constructed and sequenced SAGE libraries from noninfected BL3 cells and BL3 cells acutely infected with BVDV2 strains 1373 (noncytopathic high virulence), 28508 (noncytopathic low virulence), and 296c (cytopathic). The expression profiling of the non-infected BL3 cells revealed the normal levels of gene expression. Many of the genes that are characteristic of this cell type and integral to their function were identified. Comparison of the SAGE databases from noninfected and BVDV2-infected BL3 cells showed genes that were differentially expressed. Additionally, altered levels of gene expression were observed that were common to infected cells regardless of biotype, as well as changes specific to noncytopathic virus-infected cells, and specific to infection by a cytopathic virus. Studies are currently underway to examine which gene expression changes affect cellular function and/or contribute to pathologies observed in BVDV-infected animals.