Obstructive Lymphangitis Precedes Colitis in Murine Norovirus-Infected Stat1-Deficient Mice.

ABSTRACT: Murine norovirus (MNV) is an RNA virus that can prove lethal in mice with impaired innate immunity. We found that MNV-4 infection of Stat1^-/- mice was not lethal, but produced a 100% penetrant, previously undescribed lymphatic phenotype characterized by chronic-active lymphangitis with hepatitis, splenitis, and chronic cecal and colonic inflammation. Lesion pathogenesis progressed from early ileal enteritis and regional dilated lymphatics to lymphangitis, granulomatous changes in the liver and spleen, and, ultimately, typhlocolitis. Lesion development was neither affected by antibiotics nor reproduced by infection with another enteric RNA virus, rotavirus. MNV-4 infection in Stat1^-/- mice decreased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (Vegf) receptor 3, Ve

SUBMITTER: Seamons A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6109697 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature