Detection of human cytomegalovirus in peripheral blood lymphocytes in a natural infection.
In situ hybridization was used to detect human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of some naturally infected (seropositive) individuals. A subpopulation of cells hybridized specifically to a portion of the HCMV genome that is heavily transcribed during the immediate-early period of infection. The hybridization signal was markedly reduced by base hydrolysis and ribonuclease, and therefore the probe appears to be detecting viral RNA. A fluorescence-activated cell sorter was used to select lymphocytes bearing the OKT4 and OKT8 markers. Hybridization with the HCMV probe revealed a higher proportion of positive cells in the OKT4 than in the OKT8 subset. This observation specifically identifies lymphocytes as a cell population involved in natural HCMV infection and suggests that lymphocytes may be a reservoir for maintaining infection and may also serve as a vehicle for its spread by blood transfusion.
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D014779:Virus Replication
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D012367:RNA, Viral