West Nile virus-induced bax-dependent apoptosis

The mechanism of cell death induced by West Nile virus (WNV), a causative a gent of human febrile syndrome and encephalitis, mas investigated. WNV-infe cted K562 and Neuro-2a cells manifested the typical features of apoptosis, including cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation and subdiploid DNA content by flow cytometry, DNA fragmentation into nucleosomal size and changes in outer cell membrane phospholipid composition mere also observed in K562 cel ls. UV-inactivated virus failed to induce the above-mentioned characteristi cs, suggesting that viral replication map be required for the induction of apoptosis by WNV, Additionally, signals involved in WNV-induced apoptosis a re associated with the up-regulation of bar gene expression. (C) 2001 Feder ation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.