Persistent Rabies Virus Infection of Neuronal Cells Causes Defects in Neuroreceptor Regulation

Abstract

Some neurological diseases in man or animals are caused by neurotropic viruses which infect brain cells acutely or persistently. The relationship between virus infection and impairments of neural functions is difficult to clarify biochemically in vivo. Therefore we used CNS-derived permanent cell lines with defined neurobiochemical properties. Such cells can be acutely or persistently infected by viruses. Acute infections will kill the cells whereas persistent infections do not influence general cell parameters such as growth and cell morphology. The question we asked was: Is there an influence of persistent virus infection on specialized neurobiochemical functions. It is quite clear that impairments of these functions would cause disturbances and disorders in the brain without destruction of cells.