Human cytomegalovirus induces stage-specific embryonic antigen 1 in differentiating human teratocarcinoma cells and fibroblasts.
Cell surface expression of stage specific embryonic antigen 1 (SSEA-1), or Lex (III3 FucnLC4), was induced in differentiated human teratocarcinoma cells and in human diploid fibroblasts 3-6 d after infection with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). In parallel, fucosylated lactoseries glycolipids bearing the SSEA-1/Lex epitope were readily detected in the infected cells but not in the uninfected cells. HCMV infection also results in altered expression of several glycosyltransferases. SSEA-1/Lex induction is probably a consequence of both increased expression of beta 1----3N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase, which catalyzes the rate-limiting step in lactoseries core chain synthesis, and subtle alterations in the relative competition for common precursor structures at key points in the biosynthetic pathway. Since SSEA-1 has been suggested to play a role in some morphogenetic cell-cell interactions during embryonic development, the induction of this antigen at inappropriate times might provide one mechanism whereby intrauterine infection with HCMV can damage the developing fetal nervous system.
Andrews
P W
PW
Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104.
Gönczöl
E
E
Fenderson
B A
BA
Holmes
E H
EH
O'Malley
G
G
Hakomori
S
S
Plotkin
S
S
D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000276:immunology*; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000276:immunology*; D006602:Hexosyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016256:Lewis X Antigen; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000276:immunology; D013724:Teratoma / Q000276:immunology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006017:Glycolipids; D016256:Lewis X Antigen; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D006602:Hexosyltransferases