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Review
. 2007 Nov;9(11):2552-61.
doi: 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2007.01034.x. Epub 2007 Aug 20.

Regulation of cell death during infection by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and other coronaviruses

Yee-Joo Tan  1 , Seng Gee Lim, Wanjin Hong
Affiliations
Review

Regulation of cell death during infection by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and other coronaviruses

Yee-Joo Tan et al. Cell Microbiol. 2007 Nov.

Abstract

Both apoptosis and necrosis have been observed in cells infected by various coronaviruses, suggesting that the regulation of cell death is important for viral replication and/or pathogenesis. Expeditious research on the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, one of the latest discovered coronaviruses that infect humans, has provided valuable insights into the molecular aspects of cell-death regulation during infection. Apoptosis was observed in vitro, while both apoptosis and necrosis were observed in tissues obtained from SARS patients. Viral proteins that can regulate apoptosis have been identified, and many of these also have the abilities to interfere with cellular functions. Occurrence of cell death in host cells during infection by other coronaviruses, such as the mouse hepatitis virus and transmissible porcine gastroenteritis virus, has also being extensively studied. The diverse cellular responses to infection revealed the complex manner by which coronaviruses affect cellular homeostasis and modulate cell death. As a result of the complex interplay between virus and host, infection of different cell types by the same virus does not necessarily activate the same cell-death pathway. Continuing research will lead to a better understanding of the regulation of cell death during viral infection and the identification of novel antiviral targets.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A schematic diagram showing the complex network of viral–host interactions that can be formed after the SARS‐CoV enters a cell. The SARS‐CoV proteins can interfere with cellular functions at different compartments (cytoplasm, plasma membrane, ER, Golgi, ERGIC nucleus and mitochondria) and, eventually, cause apoptosis via the caspase cascade. The cellular localizations of SARS‐CoV proteins are indicated in parentheses. ER, endoplasmic reticulum; ERGIC, endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi intermediate compartments. formula image represents cellular compartments where viral infection can induce death stimuli.
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