Analysis of differentially expressed genes related to cell death in porcine kidney-15 cells at 24 and 48 hours post porcine parvovirus infection.

Objective: This study aims to identify and characterize differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with porcine parvovirus (PPV)-induced cell death in porcine kidney-15 (PK-15) cells. By analyzing the biological processes enriched by these DEGs and exploring their interaction networks, we aim to gain a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying PPV-mediated cell death.

Methods: After infecting cultured PK-15 cells with PPV for 24 and 48 hours, cell viability and cysteine-requiring aspartate protease-3 (caspase-3) activity were assessed using an enzyme marker. Apoptosis was observed using fluorescence microscopy. The genome-wide gene expression levels were analyzed through RNA sequencing. The functional enrichment of DEGs was analyzed using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database, and the protein-protein interaction network was generated using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins database.

Results: Porcine parvovirus inhibits cell viability, boosts caspase-3 activity, and enhances cell death at 24 and 48 hours postinfection (HPI). Porcine parvovirus-infected cells showed 547 DEGs at 24 HPI and 1,765 at 48 HPI. Different forms of cell death were enriched in 149 genes that were upregulated at both 24 and 48 HPI. More DEGs associated with cell death were involved at 48 than at 24 HPI. These DEGs are involved in multiple signaling pathways and interact within a complex protein network.

Conclusions: Porcine parvovirus infection of PK-15 cells induces multiple cell death-related DEGs and signaling pathways.

Clinical relevance: Our study presents a promising approach to investigating the mechanism of PPV infection, with a particular focus on the induction of cell death.