Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:38 (abstract no.. LbPeA7026)
Mampuru L, Mayhew C, Abotsi E, Becker R, Rangnekar V, Ahmed M University of the North, Department of Biochemistry, Province, South Africa. Fax: +27-15-268-3234, E-mail: leseilanem@unin.unorth.ac.za.
Murine Leukaemia virus (LP-BM5 MuLV) is a retrovirus mixture capable of eliciting AIDS-like syndromes, termed murine AIDS(MAIDS). We used murine bone marrow-derived stromal cells to study the events associated with LP-BM5 MuLV infection on the process of apoptosis. Bone marrow stromal cells serve as viral reservoirs during retroviral infection. We present evidence indicating that MAIDS infected stromal cells become a resistant to apoptosis when stimulated with appropriate stimuli. This abrogation is mediated, in part, through suppression of activities of both caspases-3 and -8. This means that a potential mechanism for establishment of retroviral reservoirs in bone marrow stromal cells is by inhibition of apoptosis. The model may be useful in delineating the events leading to the immunopathophysiology associated with retroviral infection in both AIDS and MAIDS.
Keywords: AEGIS, Murine Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Leukemia Virus, Murine, Apoptosis, Retroviridae Infections, Stromal Cells, Animal, AIDS 000709
LbPeA7026
