Activation and regulation of the ERK pathway by enterovirus CVA16

• Main Author: Lee, Gladys Yu Lin
• Other Authors: Liu Ding Xiang
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/60720
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Hand, Food and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is a global health problem characterized as febrile disease among young children. HFMD are caused mainly by Enterovirus 71 (EV71) and Coxsackievirus A 16 (CVA16), with more major clinical manifestations arising from EV71. However, CVA16 implication in fatal cases has probed further research. The host system’s ability to mount an innate immune response through secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines is crucial in controlling the infection; eliminating viral replication and establishing an anti-viral state. The objective of this study involves analysing the regulation of pro-inflammatory response namely; interleukin (IL)-8, IL-18, IL-1β and IL-6 expression towards CVA16 infection and Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase (ERK) pathway activation. Different experimental techniques were utilized for comparative analysis of the interleukins induction and CVA16 expression between CVA16-infected cell lines during the time-course experiments. In response to CVA16 infection, IL-18 expression was induced in CVA16- infected cell lines. IL-8 induction was present in Huh7, Huh7.5 and Vero cells. Expression of IL-1β and IL-6 were absent. Up-regulation of ERK1/2 was present in Vero cells during time-course infection. Effective viral replication in CVA16-infected cells producing inflammatory response and activation of ERK pathway could serve as potential biomarkers for determining the disease severity.