An animal model of human cytomegalovirus infection.
To develop a rat model that allowed in vivo progressive human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection, allogeneic liver transplantation was performed across a rat combination of Dark Agouti (DA) to Brown Norway (BN). AD169, a well-characterized laboratory strain of HCMV, was used to establish a rat model of HCMV infection by injection of 0.4 mL (30.0 logTCID50) supernate into the rat peritoneum. Histological and blood specimens were obtained from animals sacrificed at predetermined timepoints. We performed immunohistochemical staining in liver, heart, kidney, spleen, and lung for HCMV immediate-early antigen (IE), lower matrix protein (pp65) detection in peripheral blood leukocytes, and HCMV early antigen (EA) and late antigen (LA). We compared survival rates. Our results showed positive HCMV IE and pp65 antigenemia detected in peripheral blood leukocytes in transplanted recipients from day 1 to day 30. Positive HCMV EA and LA staining cells were only detected in sections 10 days after liver transplantation, namely, in hepatocytes, mononuclear cells, bile duct epithelial cells, and endothelial cells. Successful HCMV replication was due to the combination of liver transplantation and cyclosporine (CsA) immunosuppression. Survival analysis showed no significant differences between the HCMV-infected group and HCMV-uninfected group. This new rat model of HCMV infection may be helpful to understand immune system modulation of HCMV infection.
Gao
L
L
Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Centre of Organ Transplantation, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University School of Medicine, Nanchang, China.
Qian
S
S
Zeng
L
L
Wang
R
R
Wei
G
G
Fan
J
J
Zheng
S
S
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000473:pathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000821:virology; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000956:Antigens, Viral