Transcription at Early Stages of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Infection and during Reactivation

• Published in: Intervirology Vol. 46; no. 1; pp. 25 - 34
• Main Authors: Rezuchova, Ingeborg, Kudelova, Marcela, Durmanova, Vladimira, Vojvodova, Andrea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.01.2003
• Subjects: Animals; Cercopithecus aethiops; Genes, Immediate-Early; Herpes simplex virus 1; Herpesvirus 1, Human - genetics; Herpesvirus 1, Human - physiology; ICP0 gene; ICP27 protein; ICP4 protein; Immediate-Early Proteins - genetics; Kinetics; Original Paper; Rabbits; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Thymidine Kinase - genetics; Transcription, Genetic; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; Vero Cells; Virus Activation; Virus Replication; Immediate early and early mRNA; Herpes simplex virus 1; Reactivation of latency; Transcription; RT-PCR
• ISSN: 0300-5526; 1423-0100
• DOI: 10.1159/000068121

Objective: The kinetics of immediate early (IE) and early (E) herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) mRNA transcription was followed in explanted trigeminal ganglia from rabbits with established latency. Methods: The expression of IE and E mRNAs was first assessed in infected Vero cells by RT-PCR and then in explanted trigeminal ganglia by nested RT-PCR. Results: In infected Vero cells, IE mRNAs [for infected cell protein (ICP) 0, ICP4 and ICP27] were first detected 1–2 h post-inoculation (p.i.), peaking at 3 h p.i. The transcription of E mRNAs [for thymidine kinase (TK), RR1 and UL9], which were first detected from 3 h p.i., peaked between 5 and 10 h p.i. In explanted ganglia, the ICP0, ICP4 and ICP27 mRNAs were first detected after 4 h in culture. This was followed by the appearance of TK mRNA at 8 h and then by the UL9 mRNA, detected from 12 h post-explantation. A further E mRNA (RR1), as well as the late gC mRNA, were first observed after 24 h in culture. Moreover, ICP4 mRNA could be found in non-cultured ganglia. Conclusions: During reactivation of latent HSV-1 in explanted ganglia, the onset of ICP0 and ICP27 transcription at 4 h in culture was followed by TK transcription (at 8 h). Thus, in the rabbit reactivation model, ICP0 gene transcription rather than ICP4 transcription represents the relevant indicator of latency reactivation.