Immunohistochemical insights into Saffold virus infection of the brain of juvenile AG129 mice

Abstract

Background: Saffold Virus (SAFV) is a human cardiovirus that is suspected of causing infection of the central nervous system (CNS) in children. While recent animal studies have started to elucidate the pathogenesis of SAFV, very little is known about the mechanisms behind it.

Method: In this study, we attempted to elucidate some of the mechanisms of the pathogenesis of SAFV in the brain of a juvenile mouse model by using immunohistochemical methods.

Results: We first showed that SAFV is able to infect both neuronal and glial cells in the brain of 2 week-old AG129 mice. We then showed that SAFV is able to induce apoptosis in both neuronal and glial cells in the brain. Lastly, we showed that SAFV infection does not show any signs of gross demyelination in the brain.

Conclusion: Overall, our results provide important insights into the mechanisms of SAFV in the brain.

Keywords: Apoptosis; Demyelination; Juvenile brain; Saffold virus.

Fig. 1

Immunohistochemical co-localisation of SAFV VP1 with NeuN or GFAP. Brain sections of 6dpi SAFV infected 2 week-old AG129 mice were stain with anti-SAFV VP1 and anti-NeuN or anti-GFAP. Stained SAFV infected or uninfected mice brain sections were viewed and taken with a confocal fluorescence microscope. SAFV VP1 is labelled in red, NeuN or GFAP is labelled in green, and DAPI is labelled in blue. Arrows point at examples of colocalisation

Fig. 2

Immunohistochemical co-localisation of cleaved caspase 3 with NeuN or GFAP. Brain sections tissue of 6 dpi SAFV infected or uninfected 2 week-old AG129 mice were stained with anti-cleaved caspase 3 and anti-GFAP or anti-NeuN. Resulting stain was viewed and taken with widefield or confocal fluorescence microscope. Cleaved caspase 3 is labelled in red, NeuN or GFAP is labelled in green, and DAPI is labelled in blue. Arrows point at examples of colocalisation

Fig. 3

Fluorescence images of MBP stained uninfected and SAFV infected brain. Brain sections of 6dpi 2 week-old AG129 mice or 35dpi 3–4 week-old AG129 mice were stained with anti-MBP antibodies. No observable demyelination was detected in any sections