Replication of herpes simplex virus in blood monocytes and placental macrophages from human neonates.
Increased permissiveness of macrophages for herpes simplex virus (HSV) replication may be a mechanism for the dissemination and severity of neonatal herpetic infection. We have assessed the replication of HSV in neonatal blood monocytes and placental macrophages using several criteria for viral permissiveness. Assay of production of infectious progeny virus indicated that cord blood monocytes, like adult monocytes, were nonpermissive for HSV (about 1% of cells producing virus). In vitro culture of cord blood monocytes resulted in increased replication of HSV, but no greater extent than virus production in cultured adult cells. HSV infection of fetal placental macrophages was weak but present (4.4% of cells). Assay of production of viral antigens and electron microscopic analysis of structural elements indicated that a larger number of cord blood monocytes and placental macrophages were abortively infected than were productively infected. These results indicate that monocytes and macrophages from human neonates do not show the enhanced permissiveness for HSV demonstrated in newborn mice and suggest that dissemination of herpetic infection in human newborns cannot be explained by increased neonatal monocyte permissiveness for HSV.
Plaeger-Marshall
S
S
Department of Pediatrics, UCLA School of Medicine 90024-1747.
Ank
B J
BJ
Altenburger
K M
KM
Pizer
L I
LI
Johnston
R B
RB
Stiehm
E R
ER
D004261:DNA Replication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000382:microbiology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000382:microbiology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000502:physiology*; D014779:Virus Replication