An immortalized human fibroblast cell line is permissive for human cytomegalovirus infection.
Human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF) were immortalized via retrovirus-mediated gene transfer of the E6 and E7 genes of human papillomavirus type 16. An immortalized fibroblast (IF) cell line which was morphologically akin to the parental cell line was isolated. The IF cell line was evaluated for permissiveness to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection after the IF cell line surpassed the normal passage limitation of diploid fibroblasts. Western immunoblot analysis of representative HCMV-encoded immediate-early (72-kDa), early (gB), and late (gH) gene products demonstrated that the IF cell line produced these proteins analogous to those produced by the parental HFF cells. Similar quantities of infectious virus were produced in the IF and HFF cell lines as determined in one-step growth curve experiments. Compared with the HFF cells, morphologically identical plaques were produced in the IF cell line in approximately 10 to 12 days postinfection. These findings indicate that fibroblast cell lines immortalized with transforming genes of human papillomavirus retain complete permissiveness to HCMV infection and support plaque formation. The IF cell line will be useful for future genetic analysis of HCMV.
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School 53706-1532.
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D002460:Cell Line / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000254:growth & development*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
C068651:E6 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C059731:oncogene protein E7, Human papillomavirus type 16