title: Regulation of expression of the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) gene by products of the human cytomegalovirus immediate early genes.
abstract: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed patients, can itself alter immune function. It has previously been shown that HCMV immediate early (IE) gene products regulate the IL-1 beta promoter. The purpose of these studies was to determine whether HCMV IE gene products regulate expression of the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) gene. THP-1 cells, a myelomonocytic cell line, were transfected with a plasmid containing one or more of the HCMV IE genes downstream of the HCMV major immediate early promoter, or with a control plasmid. IL-1 beta and IL-1ra protein secretion was evaluated by ELISA, and expression of the mRNA for the cytokines was examined by means of Northern blot analysis. The HCMV IE1+2 gene products were found to increase expression of the mRNA for both IL-1 beta and IL-1ra; however, only the IL-1ra protein was released in increased amounts. The individual HCMV IE gene products had different effects on expression of the IL-1ra gene; the HCMV IE1 gene product down-regulated expression of the IL-1ra gene, whereas the IE2 gene product up-regulated expression of the IL-1ra gene. Thus, HCMV IE gene products can either up-regulate or down-regulate expression of the IL-1ra gene, depending on which IE genes are expressed in monocytes-macrophages. This study adds to the understanding of how HCMV can alter immune function during both active and latent infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242.
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Kline
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Geist
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Monick
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Stinski
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Hunninghake
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006801:Humans; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins