Publication Date
2012
Document Type
Thesis
Committee Members
Nancy Bigley (Advisor), Cheryl Conley (Committee Member), Barbara Hull (Committee Member)
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Abstract
This study examined the effects of HSV-1 infection and IFN-γ treatment on Neuro-2A cells. HSV-1 induces expression of SOCS1 and SOCS3 in infected cells, inhibiting the ability of these cells to produce the pro inflammatory, antiviral cytokine IFN-γ (Nowoslawski and Benveniste, 2011). SOCS1 and SOCS3 levels were determined in IFN-γ-treated cells, virus-infected cells, and cells that were both IFN-γ-treated and virus-infected. Results were compared with untreated, uninfected control cells. Flow cytometry data analysis showed a slight decrease in SOCS1 and SOCS3 protein levels in cells treated with IFN-γ for 6 hours compared to control cells. A significant decrease in SOCS1 and SOCS 3 levels was found in cells treated with IFN-γ for 18 hours. Up regulation of SOCS1 and SOCS3 expression was established in virus-infected Neuro-2A cells but this increase was not statistically significant when compared to control cells. However, culturing cells with IFN-γ for 6 hours prior to virus infection led to a significant (50%) decrease in SOCS1 and SOCS3expression compared to cells treated with IFN-γ alone. This showed that HSV-1 was not able to overcome the antiviral effects of IFN-γ to up regulate SOCS1 and SOCS3 expression. Cytopathic effects assays were performed to determine cell viability among cells treated with IFN-γ for 18 hours, cells infected with virus for 48 hours, and cells treated with IFN-γ for 18 hours followed by 48 hour HSV-1 infection. Pre-treating cells with IFN-γ for 18 hours prior to infection with HSV-1 (0.1 MOI) yielded a cell viability level similar to that of control cells (untreated/uninfected). This indicates that IFN-γ is providing antiviral protection to most, if not all of the cells. Applying these studies in a human cell line and eventually in an animal model would be necessary to find the efficacy of IFN-γ as a HSV-1 therapeutic.
Page Count
46
Department or Program
Microbiology and Immunology
Year Degree Awarded
2012
Copyright
Copyright 2012, all rights reserved. This open access ETD is published by Wright State University and OhioLINK.
