Cheung Chun Kai. / Thesis submitted in: December 2003. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-146). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.ii / Abstract --- p.iv / 摘要 --- p.vii / Table of Contents --- p.ix / List of Tables --- p.xv / List of Figures --- p.xvi / List of Abbreviations --- p.xxi / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Overview --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review --- p.3 / Chapter 2.1 --- Historical background --- p.3 / Chapter 2.2 --- Insulin-like growth factor --- p.5 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Structure and synthesis --- p.5 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Physiologic role and biological actions --- p.6 / Chapter 2.3 --- Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 --- p.8 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Structure and synthesis --- p.8 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Physiologic role and biological actions --- p.8 / Chapter 2.4 --- Clinical aspects --- p.10 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Metabolic effects of IGF-1 --- p.10 / Chapter 2.4.1.1 --- Similarities between IGF-I and insulin --- p.11 / Chapter 2.4.1.2 --- Differences between IGF-I and insulin --- p.13 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Glucose and protein metabolism --- p.14 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Therapeutic use of IGF-I --- p.15 / Chapter 2.4.3.1 --- Type 1 diabetes mellitus --- p.16 / Chapter 2.4.3.2 --- Type 2 diabetes mellitus --- p.17 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Side effects --- p.19 / Chapter 2.5 --- World demands --- p.21 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Significance of large-scale production --- p.21 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- IGF-I production --- p.21 / Chapter 2.6 --- Plants as bioreactors --- p.24 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Medical molecular farming --- p.24 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Advantages of plant bioreactor --- p.24 / Chapter 2.6.3 --- Commercial biopharmaceutical protein --- p.25 / Chapter 2.7 --- Tobacco expression system --- p.26 / Chapter 2.7.1 --- Tobacco model plant --- p.26 / Chapter 2.7.2 --- Transformation methods --- p.26 / Chapter 2.8 --- Hypotheses and aims of study --- p.28 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Expression of Human IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in Transgenic Tobacco --- p.30 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Chemicals --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Plant materials --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Bacterial strains --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Codon modification of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 cDNAs --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Transient assay to study IGF-I or IGFBP-3 translatability --- p.39 / Chapter 3.2.5.1 --- Construction of chimeric genes for particle bombardment --- p.39 / Chapter 3.2.5.2 --- Particle bombardment of GUS fusion constructs --- p.42 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Construction of chimeric genes for tobacco transformation --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2.6.1 --- Construction of chimeric genes with different promoters --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2.6.1.1 --- Construction of chimeric gene with CaMV 35S promoter --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2.6.1.2 --- Construction of chimeric genes with phaseolin promoter --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.6.2 --- Construction of fusion constructs --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.6.2.1 --- Construction of GUS fusion constructs --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.6.2.2 --- Construction of LRP fusion constructs --- p.51 / Chapter 3.2.6.3 --- Construction of phaseolin targeting constructs --- p.56 / Chapter 3.2.6.3.1 --- Construction of phaseolin targeting constructs without AFVY --- p.56 / Chapter 3.2.6.3.2 --- Construction of phaseolin targeting constructs with AFVY --- p.60 / Chapter 3.2.6.4 --- Cloning of chimeric genes into Agrobacterium binary vector pBI 121 --- p.64 / Chapter 3.2.7 --- Confirmation of sequencing fidelity of chimeric genes --- p.66 / Chapter 3.2.8 --- Transformation of Agrobacterium by electroporation --- p.66 / Chapter 3.2.9 --- Transformation of tobacco --- p.67 / Chapter 3.2.10 --- Selection and regeneration of transgenic tobacco --- p.67 / Chapter 3.2.11 --- GUS assay --- p.68 / Chapter 3.2.12 --- Extraction of leaf genomic DNA --- p.68 / Chapter 3.2.13 --- PCR of genomic DNA --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2.14 --- Synthesis of DIG-labeled double-stranded DNA probe --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2.15 --- Southern blot analysis --- p.70 / Chapter 3.2.16 --- Extraction of total RNA from leaves or developing seeds --- p.70 / Chapter 3.2.17 --- Northern blot analysis --- p.71 / Chapter 3.2.18 --- Extraction of total protein --- p.71 / Chapter 3.2.19 --- Tricine SDS-PAGE --- p.72 / Chapter 3.2.20 --- Western blot analysis --- p.72 / Chapter 3.2.21 --- Enterokinase digestion of fusion protein --- p.73 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Results --- p.74 / Chapter 4.1 --- Particle bombardment for transient assay --- p.74 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Construction of GUS fusion genes for particle bombardment --- p.74 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Transient expression of GUS fusion genes in soybean cotyledons and tobacco leaves --- p.76 / Chapter 4.2 --- Construction of chimeric genes for tobacco transformation --- p.78 / Chapter 4.3 --- "Tobacco transformation, selection and regeneration" --- p.81 / Chapter 4.4 --- Detection of GUS activity --- p.83 / Chapter 4.5 --- Detection of transgene integration --- p.84 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Extraction of genomic DNA and PCR --- p.84 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Southern blot analysis --- p.88 / Chapter 4.6 --- Detection of transgene transcription --- p.92 / Chapter 4.6.1 --- Extraction of total RNA --- p.92 / Chapter 4.6.2 --- Northern blot analysis --- p.92 / Chapter 4.7 --- Detection of transgene translation --- p.99 / Chapter 4.7.1 --- Extraction of total protein and Tricine SDS-PAGE --- p.99 / Chapter 4.7.2 --- Western blot analysis --- p.102 / Chapter 4.7.3 --- Enterokinase digestion of fusion protein --- p.109 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Discussion --- p.111 / Chapter 5.1 --- Codon modification of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 cDNAs --- p.114 / Chapter 5.2 --- Transient expression of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 cDNAs --- p.116 / Chapter 5.3 --- Fusion of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 cDNA with LRP gene --- p.118 / Chapter 5.4 --- Enterokinase digestion --- p.120 / Chapter 5.5 --- Phaseolin targeting signal --- p.122 / Chapter 5.6 --- Gene silencing --- p.124 / Chapter 5.7 --- Future perspectives --- p.128 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Conclusion --- p.131 / References --- p.133

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is a polypeptide protein hormone similar to insulin. It plays an important role in growth and anabolic effects in life. Most circulating IGF-I is bound to high-affinity insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), to form a complex (IGF-I/IGFBP-3) that can treat growth hormone insensitivity syndrome (GHIS) and can lower plasma glucose in diabetic patients. Its side effects can be reduced without affecting the therapeutic efficacy. Human insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (hIGFBP-3) alone is an anti-tumor agent. It has been shown to have anti-proliferation effect on numerous cancer cells, such as breast, prostate and liver cancers. / Our previous study has demonstrated that recombinant hIGF-I (rhIGF-I) and hIGFBP-3 (rhIGFBP-3) could be synthesized in transgenic tobacco plant. In the present study, we propose to establish an efficient bioreactor platform for mass production of hIGF-I and hIGFBP-3 in rice, as rice grain contains 8-15% of protein by dry weight. In order to enhance rhIGF-I and rhIGFBP-3 stability and yield, and to control their glycosylation, various constructs were designed and transformed into rice by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Protein targeting signal sequence (KDEL) was fused to direct the target proteins to specific compartments in rice grain for glycosylation in the Golgi apparatus or for stable accumulation without complex glycan processing in the endoplasmic reticulum. These expression constructs were driven by seed-specific glutelin promoter (Gt1pro). Western blot analysis showed that the rhIGF-I and rhIGFBP-3 were successfully expressed in transgenic rice grains. Biological activity of rhIGF-I was evidenced by the induction of membrane ruffling in L6 rat skeletal muscle cells, while rhIGFBP-3 was effective in inhibiting the effect of IGF-I on membrane ruffling of L6 cell. Moreover, rhIGFBP-3 was also found to inhibit the growth of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Biological activity results showed that the active expression levels of rhIGF-I and rhIGFBP-3 were found to be 10 ug and 7.36 ug per 1 g of rice seed respectively. These findings suggested that both rice-produced rhIGF-I and rhIGFBP-3 were biologically active. / Cheung, Chun Kai. / "September 2007." / Adviser: Peter Tong Chun Yip. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-08, Section: B, page: 4555. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 209-243). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Introdução e objetivo: Existem poucos estudos a respeito da imunidade inata em dermatofitoses (tinhas), este trabalho estudou a expressão dos receptores toll-like 2 e 4 em dermatofitoses por T. rubrum. Casuística e método: Estudaram-se sete pacientes com dermatofitose extensa, definida como pelo menos três segmentos corporais acometidos, e oito com a forma localizada. Inexistia qualquer imunodepressão primária ou secundária nos pacientes. Realizou-se em cada doente biópsia de área da pele lesada e sã, esta última distando pelo menos 4 cm da lesão. Outros 20 fragmentos de pele foram obtidos a partir de cirurgias estéticas. Utilizou-se a imuno-histoquímica com anticorpos anti-TLR2 e TLR4. As imagens foram analisadas pelo programa Image Pro Plus. A epiderme foi dividida em superficial e profunda, para análise da imunomarcação, considerando-se o ponto de divisão como 50% da sua espessura. Resultados: A análise da expressão do TLR4 em pacientes com tinha na epiderme superficial apresentou menores índices de densidade óptica (IDO), média 108,8±7,73 e 110,86±15,57 em pacientes com tinha localizada e extensa, respectivamente, em relação aos controles (145,26 ±21,88) com significância estatística. Também houve redução da expressão do TLR4 na epiderme profunda com IDO de 111,19±13,45 em dermatofitoses extensas e 144,65±17,20 nos controles (p=0,001). A análise da expressão do TLR2 na epiderme profunda em indivíduos com dermatofitose localizada evidenciou menor expressão na área lesada do que na sã do mesmo indivíduo, média 109,28±30,9 e 118,75±36,84, respectivamente (p 0.018). Embora não tenha havido redução da expressão do TLR2 na epiderme superficial comparativamente aos controles, na epiderme profunda encontrou-se, na área lesada das dermatofitoses extensas, menor expressão em relação aos controles, sendo 6,29±9,73 e 27,8±18,6, respectivamente. Conclusões: Encontrou-se menor expressão de TLR4 na epiderme superficial e profunda em indivíduos com dermatofitose comparativamente aos controles sadios. Em dermatofitoses extensas também a expressão de TLR2 está diminuída na epiderme profunda. Não existe diminuição da expressão do TLR2 na epiderme superficial provavelmente para manter a função de barreira da epiderme, onde este receptor é importante para coesão dos queratinócitos. Observou-se ainda menor expressão de TLR2 na pele lesada comparada à sã de indivíduos com dermatofitose localizada o que justificaria o fato destas lesões permanecerem limitadas a uma única área. / Introduction & Objectives: There are few studies to concern the role of innate immune response in dermatophytosis, so we conducted an investigation to define the involvement of TLRs in the course of tinea due T. rubrum infection. Patients & Methods: We allocated 8 patients with localised dermatophytosis and 7 with widespread one, defined as at least on three body segments. The skin was biopsied in two points: from lesion (active lesion) and healthy skin distant at least 4 cm. Twenty controls were obtained from cosmetic surgery. We use immunohistochemical staining with antibodies for antigens TLR 2 and 4. Images were analyzed. Results: (i) analysis of the expression of TLR4 of patients with tinea, found on the upper epidermis, average optical density index of 108,8±7,73 and 110,86±15,57 in localised and widespread tinea, respectively, and 145,26 ±21,88 in control skin; similar reduction maintain at lower one with average optical density index 111,19±13,45 in widespread tinea and 144,65±17,20 in controls p=0,001; (ii) analysis of TLR2 expression in the lower epidermis of patients with tinea met reduced optical density index in skin with localised tinea than in healthy skin, average 109,28±30,9 and 118,75±36,84, respectively, p 0.018. There were no reduction in TLR2 expression in upper epidermis compared to controls, although it was significant reduced in lower epidermis in widespread tinea, average 27,8±18,6 and 6,29±9,73. Conclusions: We found reduced expression of TLR4 in the lower and upper epidermis skin with tinea compared to controls in widespread and localised dermatophytosis. There was no reduction of TLR2 at upper epidermis probably in order to mantain the epidermal barrier function. We found yet a reduced expression of TLR2 in the infected skin compared to healthy one of the same patient with localised dermatophytosis which could explain that in these cases the tinea was not spread in extension.

Introdução e objetivo: Existem poucos estudos a respeito da imunidade inata em dermatofitoses (tinhas), este trabalho estudou a expressão dos receptores toll-like 2 e 4 em dermatofitoses por T. rubrum. Casuística e método: Estudaram-se sete pacientes com dermatofitose extensa, definida como pelo menos três segmentos corporais acometidos, e oito com a forma localizada. Inexistia qualquer imunodepressão primária ou secundária nos pacientes. Realizou-se em cada doente biópsia de área da pele lesada e sã, esta última distando pelo menos 4 cm da lesão. Outros 20 fragmentos de pele foram obtidos a partir de cirurgias estéticas. Utilizou-se a imuno-histoquímica com anticorpos anti-TLR2 e TLR4. As imagens foram analisadas pelo programa Image Pro Plus. A epiderme foi dividida em superficial e profunda, para análise da imunomarcação, considerando-se o ponto de divisão como 50% da sua espessura. Resultados: A análise da expressão do TLR4 em pacientes com tinha na epiderme superficial apresentou menores índices de densidade óptica (IDO), média 108,8±7,73 e 110,86±15,57 em pacientes com tinha localizada e extensa, respectivamente, em relação aos controles (145,26 ±21,88) com significância estatística. Também houve redução da expressão do TLR4 na epiderme profunda com IDO de 111,19±13,45 em dermatofitoses extensas e 144,65±17,20 nos controles (p=0,001). A análise da expressão do TLR2 na epiderme profunda em indivíduos com dermatofitose localizada evidenciou menor expressão na área lesada do que na sã do mesmo indivíduo, média 109,28±30,9 e 118,75±36,84, respectivamente (p 0.018). Embora não tenha havido redução da expressão do TLR2 na epiderme superficial comparativamente aos controles, na epiderme profunda encontrou-se, na área lesada das dermatofitoses extensas, menor expressão em relação aos controles, sendo 6,29±9,73 e 27,8±18,6, respectivamente. Conclusões: Encontrou-se menor expressão de TLR4 na epiderme superficial e profunda em indivíduos com dermatofitose comparativamente aos controles sadios. Em dermatofitoses extensas também a expressão de TLR2 está diminuída na epiderme profunda. Não existe diminuição da expressão do TLR2 na epiderme superficial provavelmente para manter a função de barreira da epiderme, onde este receptor é importante para coesão dos queratinócitos. Observou-se ainda menor expressão de TLR2 na pele lesada comparada à sã de indivíduos com dermatofitose localizada o que justificaria o fato destas lesões permanecerem limitadas a uma única área. / Introduction & Objectives: There are few studies to concern the role of innate immune response in dermatophytosis, so we conducted an investigation to define the involvement of TLRs in the course of tinea due T. rubrum infection. Patients & Methods: We allocated 8 patients with localised dermatophytosis and 7 with widespread one, defined as at least on three body segments. The skin was biopsied in two points: from lesion (active lesion) and healthy skin distant at least 4 cm. Twenty controls were obtained from cosmetic surgery. We use immunohistochemical staining with antibodies for antigens TLR 2 and 4. Images were analyzed. Results: (i) analysis of the expression of TLR4 of patients with tinea, found on the upper epidermis, average optical density index of 108,8±7,73 and 110,86±15,57 in localised and widespread tinea, respectively, and 145,26 ±21,88 in control skin; similar reduction maintain at lower one with average optical density index 111,19±13,45 in widespread tinea and 144,65±17,20 in controls p=0,001; (ii) analysis of TLR2 expression in the lower epidermis of patients with tinea met reduced optical density index in skin with localised tinea than in healthy skin, average 109,28±30,9 and 118,75±36,84, respectively, p 0.018. There were no reduction in TLR2 expression in upper epidermis compared to controls, although it was significant reduced in lower epidermis in widespread tinea, average 27,8±18,6 and 6,29±9,73. Conclusions: We found reduced expression of TLR4 in the lower and upper epidermis skin with tinea compared to controls in widespread and localised dermatophytosis. There was no reduction of TLR2 at upper epidermis probably in order to mantain the epidermal barrier function. We found yet a reduced expression of TLR2 in the infected skin compared to healthy one of the same patient with localised dermatophytosis which could explain that in these cases the tinea was not spread in extension.

Licentiatavhandling (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2005. / Härtill 3 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Univ., 2005. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Bradley J. Johnson / Research regarding rumen epithelial adaptation and potential mechanisms during the transition period of the dairy cow is lacking. The rumen epithelium has a tremendous capacity for the absorption of volatile fatty acids (VFA) produced from microbial fermentation in the rumen. Absorption of VFA from the rumen pool delivers energy substrates to the animal and provides stability to the rumen environment. Increased epithelial surface area from the development and adaptation of rumen papillae facilitates VFA absorption. Manipulation of the diet to alter rumen fermentation can have positive effects upon the rumen papillae development supporting VFA absorption. We hypothesized that enhancing rumen epithelial surface area through dietary alterations could lead to greater VFA absorption and improve rumen stability. Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of diets formulated with cane molasses to stimulate the production of ruminal butyrate and thereby increase rumen epithelial surface area and to investigate a potential mechanism for glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) to impact epithelial development. Feeding cane molasses in the dry period improved dry matter intake during the close-up period and during lactation. Milk production was increased for cows that were fed cane molasses during the dry period. Ruminal absorption of valerate was greater during the close-up period than the far-off period but was not influenced by the addition of cane molasses. Total VFA concentration measured during the dry period was not affected by the addition of cane molasses to the diet. The presence of glucagon-like peptide receptor (GLP-2R) mRNA was confirmed in bovine tissue obtained from rumen epithelium, omasum, abomasum, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, large intestine, and pancreas. The greatest level of expression of mRNA for GLP-2R was in the small intestine and large intestine. Expression of GLP-2R mRNA during the prepartum period tended to be increased with the addition of cane molasses. Postpartum expression of GLP-2R was not increased by supplementing cane molasses in the dry cow diet. Results from these experiments indicate that dry cow diets formulated to contain cane molasses can positively influence transition cow performance and that the presence of glucagonlike peptide-2 receptor could play a pivotal role in rumen epithelial development.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs), named after toll proteins identified in Drosophila melanogaster, are the pattern recognition receptors in the innate immune system that detect microbes. TLRs are mono, membrane-spanning, as well as non-catalytic receptors, which are mainly expressed in sentinel cells, such as the dendritic cells, neutrophils and macrophages. While humans have ten TLRs (TLR 1 to 10), the mouse has another three (TLRs 11, 12, 13). TLRs are made up of glycoproteins, which have luminal ligand-binding sites consisting of leucine-rich repeat (LRR) for detection of pathogens leading to activation of immune cells. TLR1, 2, 4, and 6 are responsible for recognition of lipids (such as triacetylated lipopeptide), peptidoglycan, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, the TLR3, 7, 8, and 9 mainly recognize nucleic acids, such as double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and CpG DNA, while the TLR13 detects ribosomal RNA sequences. So far, there are no data on the localization and immunological functions of TLR10. I studied the expression, localization and role of TLR10 in S. pneumoniae infection. First, I examined the expression of TLR10 in lungs of pig, cattle, dog, rat, and chickens. The light and electron microscopic data show TLR10 expression in vascular endothelium and smooth muscles in lungs of control and inflamed animals. Further, we found altered basal level of expression and localization of TLR10 in bovine neutrophils treated with E. coli lipopolysaccharide. These data show the expression of TLR10 in the lungs of tested animal species, and its alteration by LPS in bovine neutrophils. The next study was designed to investigate the regulation of TLR10 expression and to address its role in neutrophil chemotaxis. E. coli LPS activated human neutrophils showed temporal and spatial change in TLR10 expression. Confocal microscopy showed cytosolic and nuclear distribution of TLR10 in normal and activated neutrophils. TLR10 in E. coli LPS-activated neutrophils colocalized with flotallin-1, a lipid raft marker, and EEA-1, an early endosomal marker, suggested its endocytosis. Live cell imaging of LPS activated neutrophils showed TLR10 translocation to the leading edge. Neutrophils upon TLR10 knockdown were unable for fMLP-induced migration. TLR10 knockdown reduced the number of membrane pseudopods in activated neutrophils without altering the expression of key proteins of actin nucleation process, ARP-3 and Diap1. These data show TLR4-mediated pathway for regulation of TLR10 expression, and that TLR10 may have a role in neutrophil chemotaxis. Next, I examined the role of TLR10 in innate immune response to S. pneumoniae infection in U937 human macrophage cell line. S. pneumoniae are major causative agents of pneumonia, meningitis and bacteremia. A significant increase in TLR10 mRNA expression was found in S. pneumoniae (107 cfu for 6hr) challenged macrophages. TLR10 knockdown significantly reduced production of IL-1β, IL-8, IL-17 and TNF-α and no significant change in IL-10 expression, and also significantly diminished nuclear translocation of NF-κB but without affecting the phagocytosis of S. pneumoniae. Altogether, I report the that TLR10 is expressed in the normal and inflamed lungs in cattle, pigs, dogs, rats, chickens and humans. The expression of TLR10 is altered in activated neutrophils, and it plays a role in neutrophils chemotaxis and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in macrophages infected with S. pneumoniae.

Cytomegaloviruses (CMV), the prototypical β-herpesviruses, have co-evolved with their hosts and thus acquired multiple strategies for modulation of the immune response. Viral engagement of pattern recognition receptors (PRR), such as toll-like receptors (TLRs) and cytosolic nucleic acids sensors, initiates the host immune response through activation of elaborate signalling programs. The ensuing inflammatory response is further sustained and amplified through cytokines, such as IL-1β, activating signalling pathways greatly overlapping those utilized by TLRs. The central hypothesis of this thesis is that a viral counter-measure by murine CMV (MCMV) involves specific targeting of TLR- and IL-1β-induced signalling along the MyD88 to NF-κB pathway. To test this hypothesis MCMV inhibition of IL-1β signalling was initially investigated in a fibroblast cell line. It was demonstrated that in MCMV infected cells IL-1β-induced IκBα degradation is largely inhibited. Comparison of productive and non-productive infection showed this modulation requires de-novo viral gene expression beyond the immediate early region. Further investigations utilising a ORF M45 deletion mutant identified viral gene M45 as necessary for mediating the observed modulation of IL-1β- induced IκBα degradation. To further test the hypothesis, studies were extended to include TLR stimulation in the context of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) infection. It was found that TLR7/9-induced NF-κB activation is inhibited in MCMV infected BMDM. Overall, data presented in this study demonstrate a previously unrecognised MCMV inhibition of IL-1β- and TLR7/9-induced NF-κB activation, and indicate a role for viral gene M45 in mediating this effect.