Bovine respiratory syncytial virus can induce apoptosis in MDBK cultured cells

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is a major cause of respiratory d isease in calves. BRSV infection is associated with epithelial cell death a nd inflammation. Over the past few years, a growing number of viruses have been found to induce apoptosis, In order to determine the ability of BRSV t o induce apoptosis, we studied the effect of BRSV infection in cultured MDB K cells. We used ligation-mediated PCR assay to detect specific blunt-end c ellular DNA fragments produced by cellular endonucleases cleaving the genom ic DNA between the nucleosomes during apoptosis. We found that BRSV infecti on resulted in apoptosis in MDBK cells. This data demonstrates for the firs t time that BRSV can induce apoptosis. This data also may contribute to del ineate the mechanisms that regulate tissue injury and potential lung repair following BRSV infection. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.