Oxidative stress pathway gene transcription after bovine respiratory syncytial virus infection in vitro and in vivo

Authors: HOFSTETTER, AMELIA - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA); Sacco, Randy

Submitted to: Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/30/2019
Publication Date: 10/1/2019
Citation: Hofstetter, A.R., Sacco, R.E. 2019. Oxidative stress pathway gene transcription after bovine respiratory syncytial virus infection in vitro and in vivo. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology. 219(2020):109956. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2019.109956.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2019.109956

Interpretive Summary: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen. They may play a role in the disease process and in the immune response to respiratory viruses. The role of ROS in bovine respiratory diseases remains unclear. We examined the expression of some of these molecules in calf lung and in a calf respiratory tract cell line following infection with a respiratory virus. These data indicate that further study of these molecules is warranted to as we look to identify potential new therapies to aid in the control respiratory infections in cattle.

Technical Abstract: Studies in mouse and lamb models indicate important roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the pathology and immune response to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The role of ROS in bovine RSV (BRSV) infection of calves remains unclear. BRSV naturally infects calves, leading to similar disease course, micro- and macro-lesions, and symptomology as is observed in RSV infection of human neonates. Furthermore, humans, lambs, and calves, but not mice, have an active lung oxidative system involving lactoperoxidase (LPO) and the dual oxidases (DUOX) 1 and 2. To gain insight into the role of ROS in the BRSV-infected lung, we examined gene expression in infected bovine cells using qPCR. A panel of 19 primers was used to assay ex vivo and in vitro BRSV-infected cells. The panel targeted genes involved in both production and regulation of ROS. BRSV infection significantly increased transcription of five genes in bovine respiratory tract cells in vitro and in vivo. PTGS2 expression more than doubled in both sample types. Four transcripts varied significantly in lung lesions, but not non-lesion samples, compared with uninfected lung. This is the first report of the transcriptional profile of ROS-related genes in the airway after BRSV infection in the natural host.