Induction of cyclo-oxygenase-2 by acute liver allograft rejection and cytomegalovirus infection in the rat.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has been shown to increase inflammation in rat liver allografts. In-vitro CMV has been shown to transactivate cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), while COX-2 plays a role in the CMV replication cycle. Our aim was to investigate the expression of COX-2 in liver allograft rejection and concomitant CMV infection. Expression of COX-2 was studied immunohistologically in rat liver allografts with or without rat CMV infection, in isografts, and in normal rat liver. There were small amounts of COX-2-positive mononuclear inflammatory cells in the normal liver and isografts. Acute rejection increased the amount of COX-2-expressing cells in the portal areas only, whereas concomitant CMV infection did this also in the sinusoid area. COX-2 may play a role in CMV infection in vivo as well. The possible role of COX-2 in the association between CMV infection and allograft rejection warrants further study.
Martelius
Timi J
TJ
Department of Surgery, Transplant Unit Research Laboratory, Helsinki University Hospital, Kasarmikatu 11-13, 00130 Helsinki, Finland. tmarteli@helsinki.fi
Wolff
Henrik
H
Bruggeman
Cathrien A
CA
Höckerstedt
Krister A
KA
Lautenschlager
Irmeli T
IT
D000818:Animals; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000502:physiology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000201:enzymology*; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000201:enzymology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013997:Time Factors; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014779:Virus Replication
D007527:Isoenzymes; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases