Transcriptomic analysis reveals bovine herpesvirus 1 infection regulates innate immune response resulted in restricted viral replication in neuronal cells

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) is a major pathogen that affects the global bovine population, primarily inducing respiratory and reproductive disorders. Its ability to establish latent infections in neuronal cells and to reactivate under certain conditions poses a continual threat to uninfected hosts. In this study, we aimed to analyze the replication characteristics of BoHV-1 in neuronal cells, as well as the effects of viral replication on host cell immunity and physiology. Using the Neuro-2a neuronal-origin cell line as a model, we explored the dynamics of BoHV-1 replication and analyzed differential gene expression profiles post-BoHV-1 infection using high-throughput RNA sequencing. BoHV-1 demonstrated restricted replication in Neuro-2a cells. BoHV-1 induced apoptotic pathways and enhanced the transcription of interferon-stimulated genes and interferon regulatory factors while suppressing the complement cascade in Neuro-2a cells. Different from BoHV-1 infection in other non-highly differentiated somatic cells result in viral dominance, BoHV-1 regulated the innate immune response in neuronal cells formed a “virus-nerve cell” relative equilibrium state, which may account for the restricted replication of BoHV-1 in neuronal cells, leading to a latent infection. These findings provide a foundation for further research into the mechanism underlying BoHV-1-induced latent infection in nerve cells. •BoHV-1 demonstrated restricted replication in Neuro-2a cells.•BoHV-1 activates natural immune response in Neuro-2a cells by enhancing the transcription of interferon-related genes.•BoHV-1 suppresses the complement cascade response in Neuro-2a cells, limiting the natural immune response.•BoHV-1 incomplete activates natural immune response in nerve cells which leads to a restricted replication state of the virus.