Cytomegalovirus production by infected astrocytes correlates with transforming growth factor-beta release.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) encephalitis is well documented in immunosuppressed persons, but its pathogenesis has received little investigative attention. The examination of brain tissue from 2 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who had CMV encephalitis showed colocalization of CMV inclusions and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta in cells that contained astrocyte-specific glial filaments. To investigate the relationship between CMV and TGF-beta in the brain, an ex vivo murine model of CMV-infected astrocytes was established. Cultures of primary murine (strain FVB/N) astrocytes inoculated with murine (Smith strain) CMV expressed, over time, increasing amounts of infectious CMV in parallel with increasing levels of TGF-beta mRNA and peptide. Astrocyte release of CMV declined in the presence of antibody to TGF-beta and increased substantially after the addition of exogenous TGF-beta. These findings suggest that CMV infection of astrocytes induces the production of TGF-beta, which in turn enhances productive CMV expression.
Kossmann
Thomas
T
Oral Infection and Immunity Branch, National Institute of Dental and Crainofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Morganti-Kossmann
M Cristina
MC
Orenstein
Jan M
JM
Britt
William J
WJ
Wahl
Sharon M
SM
Smith
Phillip D
PD
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta