Opposite effects of two nonstructural proteins of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus regulates apoptotic cell death in BHK-21 cells

Abstract

Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus is divided into two subgroups, TO and GDVII, inducing subgroup-specific diseases. In order to investigate the role(s) of nonstructural proteins of TMEV, L and L*, leaders of two subgroups, were separately expressed with or without L* in BHK-21 cells. Expression of L increased the number of apoptotic cells. L*/BHK-21 cells constitutively expressing L* showed the decrease in cell death induced by L. These results suggest that L and L* regulate apoptosis during viral infection and contribute to TMEV subgroup-specific biological activities. © 2010 The Societies and Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.