In vitro and in vivo human herpesvirus 8 infection of placenta.
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.
Di Stefano
Mariantonietta
M
Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
Calabrò
Maria Luisa
ML
Di Gangi
Iole Maria
IM
Cantatore
Santina
S
Barbierato
Massimo
M
Bergamo
Elisa
E
Kfutwah
Anfumbom Jude
AJ
Neri
Margherita
M
Chieco-Bianchi
Luigi
L
Greco
Pantaleo
P
Gesualdo
Loreto
L
Ayouba
Ahidjo
A
Menu
Elisabeth
E
Fiore
Josè Ramòn
JR
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
D004279:DNA, Viral