title: Altered expression of extracellular matrix in human-cytomegalovirus-infected cells and a human artery organ culture model to study its biological relevance.
abstract: The influence of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) on the transcription of 11 selected, representative extracellular matrix genes was investigated in cell culture. Northern blot hybridization indicated the downregulation of all mRNAs investigated. Based on our results and the known repression of other extracellular matrix transcripts and the beta-actin transcription during HCMV infection, we suggest that one molecular mechanism contributing to the cytopathic effect may be the transcriptional downregulation of genes encoding proteins involved in cell structure and intercellular connection. To further study the biological relevance of this and other pathogenetic mechanisms, we established a human renal artery organ culture system and characterized this new infection model for HCMV. Our model is a new suitable system for the investigation of molecular as well as functional consequences of HCMV infection in a more physiological microenvironment.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Virologie, Universitätsklinikum, Ulm, Deutschland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schaarschmidt
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reinhardt
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vaida
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mayr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lüske
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baur
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gschwend
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kleinschmidt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kountidis
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wenderoth
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Voisard
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mertens
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000502:physiology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins