Autophagy has recently been demonstrated in both cultured cells infected with varicella- zoster virus (VZV) as well as in a human zoster vesicle. The presence of punctate autophagosomes in a zoster skin vesicle firmly established that autophagy (macroautophagy) is a relevant biological process during the natural history of disease caused by this herpesvirus. Of importance, we have carried out sufficient preliminary studies to document that autophagy induced by VZV infection does not resemble HSV-induced autophagy. First of all, the VZV genome lacks a homolog of the HSV ICP 34.5 gene. Secondly, we have now shown by two different methods that VZV infection quickly induces marked ER stress, an event not known to occur in the HSV system. Therefore, the re-stated central hypothesis for this proposal is that ER stress is a critical component of VZV infection, that ER stress is related to an over abundance of misfolded VZV glycoproteins in the ER, and that ER-associated degradation and autophagy are consequences that relieve ER stress. These events allow the infected cell to survive longer, to avoid apoptosis, and in that sense can be considered pro-viral. The Research Plan to test this hypothesis involves three Specific Aims.
Aim 1 is called Induction of autophagy as a consequence of VZV induced ER stress.
Aim 2 is called Activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) by VZV induced ER stress.
Aim 3, which involves the A. Arvin laboratory, includes Studies of autophagy and ER stress in the SCID-hu mouse model, following infection with various recombinant mutated VZV genomes. In our Research Plan, we will continue prior investigations with an expanded experimental approach directed toward the three sensor pathways that lead from ER stress to the UPR (IRE1, ATF6 and PERK). We have already detected four proteins associated with the UPR in VZV infected cells, including BiP (HSPA5), HSPA8, HSPD1 and PPIA: peptidyl-propyl-cis-trans-isomerase). More recently we have detected the spliced form of XBP1 (X-Box binding protein) in VZV infected cells, another marker of the UPR. The final approach will include animal experiments with already prepared recombinant viruses containing numerous gE mutations. The phenotypes of these mutant viruses have already been determined in both cell culture and the SCID mouse model. Thus the above experimental plan will determine the relative importance of ER stress and autophagy in the cellular response to VZV infection. The results are relevant not only to our understanding of varicella vaccination but also the debilitating zoster-related illness called post-herpetic neuralgia.

Public Health Relevance

Varicella zoster virus is the first human herpesvirus to be attenuated for a vaccine to prevent chickenpox and also herpes zoster. Questions remain about the mechanisms of protection, especially for older adults who receive the vaccine to prevent shingles.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI089716-05
Application #
8803757
Study Section
Virology - B Study Section (VIRB)
Program Officer
Beisel, Christopher E
Project Start
2011-03-01
Project End
2017-02-28
Budget Start
2015-03-01
Budget End
2017-02-28
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Iowa
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
062761671
City
Iowa City
State
IA
Country
United States
Zip Code
52246
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Buckingham, Erin M; Foley, Maria A; Grose, Charles et al. (2018) Identification of Herpes Zoster-Associated Temporal Arteritis Among Cases of Giant Cell Arteritis. Am J Ophthalmol 187:51-60
Grose, Charles (2018) Heightened risk of ischemic stroke after recent herpes zoster ophthalmicus. J Med Virol 90:1283-1284
Buckingham, Erin M; Jarosinski, Keith W; Jackson, Wallen et al. (2016) Exocytosis of Varicella-Zoster Virus Virions Involves a Convergence of Endosomal and Autophagy Pathways. J Virol 90:8673-85
Grose, Charles; Johanson, Donald C (2016) Transmission of Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr Virus, and Herpes Simplex Virus Infections: From the Lucy Australopithecus Epoch to Modern-Day Netherlands. J Pediatr 170:9-10
Grose, Charles (2016) Biological Plausibility of a Link Between Arterial Ischemic Stroke and Infection With Varicella-Zoster Virus or Herpes Simplex Virus. Circulation 133:695-7
Halling, Geoffrey C; Grose, Charles (2016) Focal herpes zoster encephalitis without a rash: diagnostic confusion between astrogliosis and low-grade glioma. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 14:1109-1111
Carpenter, John E; Clayton, Amy C; Halling, Kevin C et al. (2016) Defensive Perimeter in the Central Nervous System: Predominance of Astrocytes and Astrogliosis during Recovery from Varicella-Zoster Virus Encephalitis. J Virol 90:379-91
Grose, Charles; Buckingham, Erin M; Carpenter, John E et al. (2016) Varicella-Zoster Virus Infectious Cycle: ER Stress, Autophagic Flux, and Amphisome-Mediated Trafficking. Pathogens 5:
Gershon, Anne A; Breuer, Judith; Cohen, Jeffrey I et al. (2015) Varicella zoster virus infection. Nat Rev Dis Primers 1:15016

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