Elsevier

Virology

Volume 394, Issue 2, 25 November 2009, Pages 235-242
Virology

Torquetenovirus DNA drives proinflammatory cytokines production and secretion by immune cells via toll-like receptor 9

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2009.08.036Get rights and content
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Abstract

Active infection with torquetenovirus (TTV) has been associated with an increased severity of diseases in which inflammation plays a particularly important pathogenetic role. Here, we report that cloned DNA of a genogroup 4 TTV (ViPiSAL) is an activator of proinflammatory cytokine production by murine spleen cells and that the effect is mediated via toll-like receptor (TLR)9. The same DNA also increased the levels of proinflammatory cytokines induced by two well-characterized TLR9 stimulants. Finally, in silico analyses of the genomes of ViPiSAL and other TTVs revealed marked differences in the representation of CpG motifs known to be most effective at activating immune cells via TLR9. These findings demonstrate for the first time that at least one TTV isolate has the potential to stimulate and co-stimulate inflammatory responses.

Keywords

TTV
TLR9
Cytokines
CpG motifs
TTV genogroups
Inflammation

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