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. 2015 Aug;204(4):505-14.
doi: 10.1007/s00430-014-0361-2. Epub 2014 Sep 30.

Expression profile and histological distribution of IFITM1 and IFITM3 during H9N2 avian influenza virus infection in BALB/c mice

Meng Yu  1 , Wenbao Qi, Zhiqiang Huang, Kaizhao Zhang, Jinhui Ye, Rongchang Liu, Heng Wang, Yongjiang Ma, Ming Liao, Zhangyong Ning
Affiliations

Expression profile and histological distribution of IFITM1 and IFITM3 during H9N2 avian influenza virus infection in BALB/c mice

Meng Yu et al. Med Microbiol Immunol. 2015 Aug.

Abstract

The H9N2 avian influenza virus is a pandemic threat which has repeatedly caused infection in humans and shows enhanced replication and transmission in mice. Previous reports showed that host factors, the interferon-inducible transmembrane (IFITM) protein, can block the replication of pathogens and affect their pathogenesis. BALB/c mice are routine laboratory animals used in influenza virus research, but the effects of H9N2 influenza virus on tissue distribution and expression pattern of IFITM in these mice are unknown. Here, we investigated the expression patterns and tissue distribution of IFITM1 and IFITM3 in BALB/c mice by infection with H9N2 AIV strains with only a PB2 residue 627 difference. The results showed that the expression patterns of ITITM1 and IFITM3 differ in various tissues of BALB/c mice at different time points after infection. IFITM1 and IFITM3 showed cell- and tissue-specific distribution in the lung, heart, liver, spleen, kidney and brain. Notably, the epithelial and neuronal cells all expressed the proteins of IFITM1 and IFITM3. Our results provide the first look at differences in IFITM1 and IFITM3 expression patterns in BALB/c mice infected by H9N2 influenza viruses. This will enhance research on the interaction between AIV and host and further will elucidate the pathogenesis of influenza virus infection based on the interferon-inducible transmembrane (IFITM) protein.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Histopathological changes in lung (a, b and c) and brains (d, e and f) of mice in rVK627E group, VK627 group and control
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Relative mRNA expression levels of IFITM1 and IFITM3 in the detected tissues of the control, rVK627E and VK627 groups at different time points. * P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01. Data are represented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). All samples were detected in triplicate
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Distribution of IFITM1 in the tissues of infected and control BALB/c mice at 5 dpi. Scale bar 50 μm
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Distribution of IFITM3 in the tissues of infected and control BALB/c mice at 5 dpi. Scale bar 50 μm
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