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The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is the major causative agentfor the worldwide outbreak of SARS in 2003.The mechanism by which SARS-CoV causes atypical pneu-monia remains unclear.The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) is a key transcription factor that activatesnumerous genes involved in cellular immune response and inflammation.Many studies have shown that NF-kB plays an important role in the pathogenesis of lung diseases.In this study,we investigated the possibleregulatory interaction between the SARS-CoV nucleocapsid (N) protein and NF-kB by luciferase activityassay.Our results showed that the SARS-CoV N protein can significantly activate NF-kB only in Vero E6cells.which are susceptible to SARS-CoV infection,but not in Vero or HeLa cells.This suggests that NF-kBactivation is cell-specific.Furthermore,NF-kB activation in Vero E6 cells expressing the N protein is dose-dependent.Further experiments showed that there is more than one function domain in the N protein respon-sible for NF-kB activation.Our data indicated the possible role of the N protein in the pathogenesis of SARS.
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is the major causative agent for the worldwide outbreak of SARS in 2003. The mechanism by which SARS-CoV causes atypical pneu-monia remains unclear.The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) is a key transcription factor that activates numerous genes involved in cellular immune response and inflammation. Many studies have shown that NF-kB plays an important role in the pathogenesis of lung diseases.In this study, we investigated the possible regulatory interaction between the SARS-CoV nucleocapsid ( N) protein and NF-kB by luciferase activity assay. Our results showed that the SARS-CoV N protein can significantly activate NF-kB only in Vero E6 cells. Whi are susceptible to SARS-CoV infection, but not in Vero or HeLa cells. suggests that NF-κB activation is cell-specific. Frthermore, NF-kB activation in Vero E6 cells expressing the N protein is dose-dependent. Further experiments showed that there is more than one function domain in the N prot ein responsible for NF-kB activation. Our data shows the possible role of the N protein in the pathogenesis of SARS.