Expression of heat shock proteins (hsp9o, hsp70 and hsp27) in brain cells of BALB/c mice infected with mouse pox virus.

摘要

Ectromelia virus (ECTV) is a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus of the Poxviridae family. It is a causative agent of mouse pox in genetically sensitive mice strains of H-2d (BALB/c) and H-2n (A,A/J) haplotypes. The mouse pox virus is a well-recognized model for studying the generalized viral infections in natural hosts. This study was conducted to determine the role of heat shock proteins (hsp90, hsp70 and hsp2) during the replication of the Moscow strain of ECTV (ECTV-MOS) in BALB/c mice. The internal organs of mice were important sites for primary viral replication, whereas ECTV penetration into the brain might seriously influence the mechanisms supervising the immune and nervous system cooperation. Based on the studies carried out in BALB/c mice infected with ECTV-MOS, it was observed that the heat shock protein (hsp90, hsp70 and hsp2) expression in the brain cells reached peak values during the incubation period and clinical manifestation of mouse pox. However, the relative number of hsp+ cells in the brain decreased during the recrudescence of the infection to values observed in control mice. The high expression of heat shock proteins on oligodendrocytes in BALB/c mice during the incubation and clinical periods might reflect the protective action of heat shock proteins within the brain..