Bacterial infection of endometrial stromal cells influences bovine herpesvirus 4 immediate early gene activation: A new insight into bacterial and viral interaction for uterine disease

Abstract

Experimental infection with the γ-herpesvirus bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) rarely establishes disease, yet BoHV-4 is commonly associated with uterine disease in cattle. Uterine disease involves co-infection with bacteria such as Escherichia coli, which stimulate the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by endometrial cells. BoHV-4 replication depends on immediate early 2 (IE2) gene transactivation and, in the present study, PGE2, E. coli or its lipopolysaccharide upregulated the IE2 gene promoter in uterine cells. Bacterial co-infection is important for BoHV-4 uterine disease. © 2008 Society for Reproduction and Fertility.