title: Replication of human cytomegalovirus in cells deficient in beta 2-microglobulin gene expression.
abstract: To study the roles of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I expression in human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection, the ability of HCMV strain AD-169 to infect and replicate in a human melanoma cell line (FO-1), which is beta 2-m-deficient and cannot express MHC class I on its cell surface, was examined. Susceptibility of FO-1 cells was compared with human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF) and FO-1H cells (FO-1 cells that have been transfected with the human beta 2-m gene, restoring MHC I expression on the cell surface). As judged by the HCMV immediate early 1 (IE-1) antigen expression, HCMV was able to infect FO-1 cells, although somewhat less efficiently than HFF. However, the expression of HCMV late (L) antigen and the production of virus was significantly less for FO-1 cells than for HFF. Analysis of the FO-1H transfectants revealed that expression of IE-1 and L HCMV antigens was comparable to FO-1 cells, which lack MHC I. Treatment of FO-1 and FO-1H cells with sodium butyrate prior to inoculation did not alter the expression of MHC I in either cell type, but did increase susceptibility of both cell types to HCMV infection, as well as the expression of L antigens and production of virus. These studies indicate that HCMV infection of FO-1 cells is independent of beta 2-m and MHC class I expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington.
authors.forename: Q H
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Trymbulak
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Tatake
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Forman
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Zeff
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Shanley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002087:Butyrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D020148:Butyric Acid; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000502:physiology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000821:virology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma; D012867:Skin / Q000821:virology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014779:Virus Replication; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000172:deficiency
chemical_list: D002087:Butyrates; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D020148:Butyric Acid