The effects of SIRT1 activation on oxidative stress in Maedi-Visna virus infection: The NRF2/HO-1 pathway and 8-OHdG findings

Maedi-Visna and Caprine arthritis–encephalitis viruses are common among sheep rearing countries and have been causing economic losses because of the long preclinical incubation period and fatal onset. Two viruses are members of the small ruminant lentiviruses and infection generally happens between sheep and goat without a species barrier. In this study 15 sheep with respiratory sings and suspected of having Maedi-Visna disease was investigated for antioxidant response associated with the Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) – Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) – Heme oxygenase-1 (HO‑1) axis in conjunction with 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OhdG) levels. Diagnosis of the disease was determined with polymerase chain reaction specific to LTR region of the virus. The diagnosis was supported with histochemical findings. SIRT1, NRF2, HO‑1, 8-OHdG expression levels were determined using immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence methods. According to results Maedi infection was found to be severely suppressing antioxidant defence mechanisms and increasing oxidative damage. The findings indicate an inverse relationship between suppression of the SIRT1/NRF2/HO-1 axis and increased 8-OHdG levels, suggesting that oxidative stress may play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease.