Investigation of the apoptotic and autophagic effects of bovine herpesvirus-1 in different cancer cell lines

The use of oncolytic viruses for the destruction of cancer cells, called virotherapy in cancer treatment, is recommended as an alternative way in cancer treatment. Oncolytic virus selectively causes lysis and apoptosis in cancer cells and contributes to immunotherapy by stimulating immune system cells. While many viruses are nominated for this purpose, their advantages and disadvantages are intensively researched in all details. Studies have shown that the oncolytic effect of some viruses is important after the selection of wild virus candidates that are pathogenic in different species, the creation and use of recombinant forms by making changes on their genetic structures. The BHV-1 pathogen proposed in the project is the bovine host. It has not been identified as a disease agent in humans. In recent years, some studies on BHV-1 have suggested that it may have oncolytic potential. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the apoptotic and autophagic oncolytic effects of bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1), which is a pathogen in cattle, in different cancer cell lines. For this purpose, apoptotic and autophagic pathways in breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231), lung cell line (A549), prostate cancer cell lines (DU145 and PC3) and cervical cancer cell line (Hela) were investigated. Cell lines with different titers of infection and time-dependent changes were evaluated. It was determined that the amount and time-dependent cell losses increased due to virus infection, and the number of apoptotic cells increased. It was evaluated that the expression level of some markers (BCL-2, ATG7, p62, caspase-8 and caspase-9) in infected cells changed depending on time and dose. There is a need to use more apoptotic and autophagic markers to elucidate the death mechanisms in these cancer cells.