Induction of transforming growth factor-beta 1 production in human cells by herpes simplex virus.
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a cytokine of particular interest in human retrovirus infections because it can abrogate antigen-specific cellular activation. Although TGF-beta production has been observed in HIV infections, there is no evidence that herpes simplex virus (HSV)-stimulated human cells produce this cytokine. Here we present evidence, for the first time, that in vitro infection of human mononuclear cells with HSV type 1 (HSV-1) induced the release of TGF-beta1 protein. The production of this cytokine was time dependent and was found highly significant (p < 0.001) after 48 h. In addition, we observed that the secretion of TGF-beta1 was dependent on the concentration of human cells. It was found that virus needs to replicate in human cells for the production of TGF-beta1, as UV-inactivated virus did not induce significant production of cytokine protein. Interestingly, increased HSV-1-induced TGF-beta1 production in cultures containing antiinterleukin (IL)-12 or antiinterferon (IFN)-gamma antibodies was observed, whereas an irrelevant antibody had no effect on the production of this cytokine. Taken together, these findings indicate that human cells synthetize TGF-beta1 in response to HSV-1 and at the same time suggest that HSV-1-induced TGF-beta1 production may be one of the mechanisms by which HSV can at least partly evade activation of the host immune system.
Méndez-Samperio
P
P
Departamento de Immunologia, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, IPN, Carpio y Plan de Ayala, México, D.F., México.
Hernandez
M
M
Ayala
H E
HE
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007106:Immune Sera; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma