title: Recombinant HCMV UL128 expression and functional identification of PBMC-attracting activity in vitro.
abstract: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has evolved several immune evasion strategies. One strategy is controlling the movement of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by encoding homologues of chemokines. Our aim was to determine whether HCMV open reading frame (ORF) UL128 could encode a protein that attracts PBMCs like a β-chemokine. The recombinant UL128 protein was synthesized by construction of a stably transfected CHO-UL128 cell line, and a chemotaxis assay showed that UL128 was able to attract PBMCs with a potency equal to that of MIP-1α in vitro. We hypothesize that UL128 protein may act as a β-chemokine homologue in viral pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Therapy of neonatal Diseases, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University) Ministry of Education, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China.
authors.forename: Huihui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Gao
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hui-Hui
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ran
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.forename: Shiqiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: Shang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shi-Qiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006224:Cricetinae; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C532797:UL128 protein, human cytomegalovirus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins