Human cytomegalovirus immediate early and late transcripts are expressed in all major leukocyte populations in vivo.
Leukocyte populations were purified by fluorescence-activated cell sorter and analyzed for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA and mRNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cDNA PCR, respectively. Twenty-two blood samples from 17 patients with active HCMV infection were studied. HCMV DNA was detected most frequently in granulocytes and monocytes but was also found in CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ lymphocytes. Viral immediate early and late mRNA was found in ficoll-enriched mononuclear cells and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. In 11 samples from 9 patients with active HCMV infection, immediate early mRNA was detected in 8 lymphocyte, 6 monocyte, and 8 granulocyte fractions. Late mRNA was detected in 7 lymphocyte, 7 monocyte, and 9 granulocyte fractions. The presence of viral late mRNA provides strong evidence for infection of these leukocyte populations with HCMV in vivo.
von Laer
D
D
Abteilung Virologie, Universitätsklinikum, Universität, Freiburg, Germany.
Serr
A
A
Meyer-König
U
U
Kirste
G
G
Hufert
F T
FT
Haller
O
O
D001483:Base Sequence; D002469:Cell Separation; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000821:virology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000821:virology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009000:Monocytes / Q000821:virology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000821:virology; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000097:blood; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000097:blood
D004279:DNA, Viral; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; C065418:cytomegalovirus matrix protein 65kDa