Activation of the Mitochondrial Apoptotic Signaling Platform during Rubella Virus Infection

Claus, Claudia; Manssen, Lena; Hübner, Denise; Roßmark, Sarah; Bothe, Viktoria; Petzold, Alice; Große, Claudia; Reins, Mareen; Mankertz, Annette; Frey, Teryl K.; Liebert, Uwe G.

This study highlights the importance of not only considering cell specificity in the course of virus-induced apoptosis, but also virus strain specificity. These observations are strengthened by studies on viral strain-specific cytopathogenicity of human respiratory syncytial virus, cytomegalovirus and coronavirus [40] [41] [42] . However, the use of just one cell line for most of the results shown in this study limits the conclusions that can be drawn for RV-induced apoptosis. In future studies, the observed apoptotic effects induced by RV strains in Vero cells, which are of simian origin, need to be further addressed in relevant human cell lines such as fetal fibroblasts and the A549 cell line. Nevertheless, we have provided some verification in our study that the findings reported are not restricted to Vero cells.