title: Neural precursor cell susceptibility to human cytomegalovirus diverges along glial or neuronal differentiation pathways.
abstract: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a major cause of congenital brain disease, and its neuropathogenesis may be related to viral infection of rapidly dividing, susceptible neural precursor cells (NPCs). In the present study, we evaluated the susceptibility of human fetal brain-derived NPCs (nestin(+), A2B5(+), CD133(+)) to infection with CMV. Data derived from these studies demonstrated that undifferentiated NPCs supported productive viral replication. After differentiation in the presence of serum, a treatment that promotes development of an astroglial cell phenotype (GFAP(+), nestin(-), A2B5(-)), viral expression was retained. However, differentiation of NPCs in medium containing platelet-derived growth factor and brain-derived neurotropic factor, conditions that support the development of neurons (Tuj-1(+), nestin(-), A2B5(-)), resulted in reduced viral expression, with corresponding decreased CMV major immediate-early promoter (MIEP) activity relative to undifferentiated cells. Further experiments showed that cellular differentiation into a neuronal phenotype was associated with elevated levels of various CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBP)-beta isoforms, which suppressed MIEP activity in cotransfected NPCs. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the susceptibility of primary human NPCs to CMV is retained concomitantly with differentiation into glial cells but is actively repressed following differentiation into neurons.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Laboratory, Center for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Translational Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Maxim C-J
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cheeran
authors.forename: Shuxian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Hsiao T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Palmquist
authors.forename: Phillip K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lokensgard
mesh_terms: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000502:physiology*; D005333:Fetus; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D064231:Nestin; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; C577484:NES protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; C022616:thiazolyl blue