Objective: To investigate the effect of Hantaan virus infection on the expression of stress genes.
Methods: Techniques of virus infection, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, dual-immunofluorecsence staining, laser scanning confocal microscopy, RNA dot blot and in situ hybridization were used.
Results: Expression of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) was observed in cells infected with HTV as well as the translocation of Hsp70 from cytoplasm to nucleoli following virus infection. The variable distribution of Hsp70 was related to the various time after infection. Double-label indirect immunofluorescence of nuclear protein (NP) and Hsp70 in infected cells demonstrated co-localization of these proteins in the cytoplasm.
Conclusion: Overexpression of Hsp70 can be induced directly by Hantaan virus, which may be associated with virus protein assembly. The Hantaan virus proteins co-localize with, and possibly form a physical complex with cellular Hsp70 in infected cells.