title: Analysis of human cytomegalovirus-infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells from infants with liver dysfunction by flow cytometry and the polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: Perinatal human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection often involves the hepatobiliary tract, but infected individuals usually remain asymptomatic. We investigated the role of CD8+ lymphocytes in 13 infants with liver dysfunction associated with perinatal HCMV infection. In three patients more than 40% of CD8+ cells were positive for HCMV immediate early antigen (IEA) and late antigen (LA) by flow cytometry after selection of T lymphocytes subpopulations. In the other 10 infants, 20% to 30% of CD8+ cells were positive for HCMV IEA and LA. HCMV IE DNA was detected in CD8+ cells from one infant, in CD4+ cells from one infant, and in both CD4+ and CD8+ cells from three infants. HCMV infection of CD8+ cells may play an important role in the process of perinatal primary infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Numazaki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Asanuma
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chiba
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001483:Base Sequence; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000382:microbiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D004279:DNA, Viral; D012333:RNA, Messenger