title: In vitro and in vivo human herpesvirus 8 infection of placenta.
abstract: Herpesvirus infection of placenta may be harmful in pregnancy leading to disorders in fetal growth, premature delivery, miscarriage, or major congenital abnormalities. Although a correlation between human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection and abortion or low birth weight in children has been suggested, and rare cases of in utero or perinatal HHV-8 transmission have been documented, no direct evidence of HHV-8 infection of placenta has yet been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo susceptibility of placental cells to HHV-8 infection. Short-term infection assays were performed on placental chorionic villi isolated from term placentae. Qualitative and quantitative HHV-8 detection were performed by PCR and real-time PCR, and HHV-8 proteins were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Term placenta samples from HHV-8-seropositive women were analyzed for the presence of HHV-8 DNA and antigens. In vitro infected histocultures showed increasing amounts of HHV-8 DNA in tissues and supernatants; cyto- and syncitiotrophoblasts, as well as endothelial cells, expressed latent and lytic viral antigens. Increased apoptotic phenomena were visualized by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine nick end-labeling method in infected histocultures. Ex vivo, HHV-8 DNA and a latent viral antigen were detected in placenta samples from HHV-8-seropositive women. These findings demonstrate that HHV-8, like other human herpesviruses, may infect placental cells in vitro and in vivo, thus providing evidence that this phenomenon might influence vertical transmission and pregnancy outcome in HHV-8-infected women.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariantonietta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Stefano
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Calabrò
authors.forename: Iole Maria
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Di Gangi
authors.forename: Santina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cantatore
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbierato
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bergamo
authors.forename: Anfumbom Jude
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Kfutwah
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chieco-Bianchi
authors.forename: Pantaleo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Loreto
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gesualdo
authors.forename: Ahidjo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayouba
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Menu
authors.forename: Josè Ramòn
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Fiore
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral