title: Sequestration of human cytomegalovirus by human renal and mammary epithelial cells.
abstract: Urine and breast milk represent the main routes of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) transmission but the contribution of renal and mammary epithelial cells to viral excretion remains unclear. We observed that kidney and mammary epithelial cells were permissive to HCMV infection and expressed immediate early, early and late antigens within 72 h of infection. During the first 24 h after infection, high titers of infectious virus were measured associated to the cells and in culture supernatants, independently of de novo synthesis of virus progeny. This phenomenon was not observed in HCMV-infected fibroblasts and suggested the sequestration and the release of HCMV by epithelial cells. This hypothesis was supported by confocal and electron microscopy analyses. The sequestration and progressive release of HCMV by kidney and mammary epithelial cells may play an important role in the excretion of the virus in urine and breast milk and may thereby contribute to HCMV transmission.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Immunology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Rue A. Bolland 8, B-6041 Charleroi, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Twite
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Graciela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andrei
authors.affiliation: ImmuneHealth, Rue A. Bolland 8, B-6041 Charleroi, Belgium.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kummert
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasme Hospital, Route de Lennik 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Donner
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Institut de Biologie et Médecine Moléculaires, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies, Belgium.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perez-Morga
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, U.Z. Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 12, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Vos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: Robert.Snoeck@Rega.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Snoeck
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Immunology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Rue A. Bolland 8, B-6041 Charleroi, Belgium; ImmuneHealth, Rue A. Bolland 8, B-6041 Charleroi, Belgium. Electronic address: arnaud.marchant@ulb.ac.be.
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marchant
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology*; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology*; D014779:Virus Replication
keywords: Antibody; HCMV glycoprotein B; Human cytomegalovirus; Interferon-gamma; Mammary epithelial cell; Renal epithelial cell; Viral excretion