A potential biomarker of influenza H7N9 virus infection in A549 cells

  Objective  To analyze specific protein and screen biomarkers of H7N9 avian influenza virus infection in A549 cells by establishing a A549 cell model of H7N9 avian influenza virus and H1N1pdm09 influenza virus (the control) infection for exploring the pathogenic mechanism of H7N9 avian influenza virus infection.

  Methods  The A549 cells were infected by H7N9 avian influenza virus with the multiplicity of infection of 0.001 and the control virus. Then the total protein of the infected cells was extracted and analyzed with two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) 24, 48, and 72 hours after the infection. Potential biomarkers of H7N9 avian influenza virus infection were screened and validated via Western blot.

  Results  Compared with that in the H1N1pdm09 infection, the platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolaseⅠb subunit beta (PAFAH1B2) was significantly down-regulated in A549 cells 72 hours after the H7N9 avian influenza virus infection. But the expression of PAFAH1B2 showed no obvious variation in A549 cells of the blank control and infected by H1N1pdm09 influenza virus.

  Conclusion  PAFAH1B2 could be a biomarker for later period H7N9 avian influenza virus infection in A549 cells and the variation in PAFAH1B2 expression may be associated with clinical symptoms of H7N9 avian influenza virus infection.