Human cytomegalovirus infection of immature dendritic cells and macrophages.
A central aspect of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) pathogenesis is the interaction of the virus with different antigen-presenting cell (APC) types of the host. In principle, a number of various cell types have the potential of antigen presentation when MHC II expression is induced by appropriate stimuli. The most potent antigen presenters are monocytes/macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), therefore called professional APCs. Interestingly, these cells seem to be targets of productive HCMV infection. The susceptibility of the monocyte/macrophage system has been analyzed intensively during the past decade. Investigation of the role of DCs during HCMV infection, however, has begun only recently.
Jahn
G
G
Department of Medical Virology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. gdjahn@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Stenglein
S
S
Riegler
S
S
Einsele
H
H
Sinzger
C
C
D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000502:physiology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology*