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. 1997 Apr;71(4):3244–3249. doi: 10.1128/jvi.71.4.3244-3249.1997

Dengue virus replication in human hepatoma cells activates NF-kappaB which in turn induces apoptotic cell death.

P Marianneau 1, A Cardona 1, L Edelman 1, V Deubel 1, P Desprès 1
PMCID: PMC191457  PMID: 9060688

Abstract

The severe outcome of the dengue (DEN) virus infection known as DEN hemorrhagic fever-DEN shock syndrome (DHF-DSS) is, in some cases, accompanied by liver injury. Councilman bodies observed in liver biopsies of DHF-DSS cases may correspond to hepatocytes in apoptosis. We show here that infection of the hepatoma cell line HepG2 with DEN type 1 virus induced cell death typical of apoptosis late in the virus cycle. The transcription factor NF-kappaB was activated concomitantly with viral protein synthesis and thus before the appearance of apoptotic cells. Inhibition of apoptosis was observed when DEN virus-infected cells were treated with NF-kappaB decoys, indicating the involvement of this transcription factor in induction of cell death. Thus, infected hepatocytes appear to be subject to apoptosis in vitro, and this may be a key element in the pathophysiology of hepatic failure associated with DHF-DSS.

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Selected References

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