• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.224-229
• /
• 2002

The effect of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) on three human monocyte cell lines at different stages of differentiation was investigated. While the viability of HL-60 cells or U-937 cells was not significantly affected by HCMV infection, the viability of THP-1 cells was reduced. Acridine orange/ethidiurn bromide staining revealed that the reduction of THP-1 cell viability was due to increased apoptotic death following HCMV infection. Apoptosis in HL-60 cells was not affected by HCMV infection, and induction of apoptosis of U-937 cells by HCMV was intermediate between HL-60 and THP-1 cells. Since HL-60 cells are the least differentiated and THP-1 cells are the most differentiated, the induction of apoptosis of human monocytes appears to be related to the degree of cell differentiation. Flow cytometric and confocal microscopic studies using fluorescent calcium indicator Fluo-3 suggested a significant increase in intracellular free calcium concentration (［Ca$\^$2+/］i) in THP-1 cells undergoing apoptosis by HCMV infection. Again ［Ca$\^$2+/］i in HCMV-infected HL-60 cells was not critically altered, and that in HCMV-infected U-937 cells was intermediate between THP-1 cells and HL-60 cells. Calcium influx blockers such as verapamil and nifedipine partially reversed HCMV-induced apoptosis in THP-1 cells.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.145-150
• /
• 2001

Reactivation of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) from latency is often fatal to immunocompromised individuals. To understand the effect of HCMV on human monocytes where HCMV establishes latency, two human monocyte cell lines at different stages in differentiation, THP-1 and HL-60 were infected with HCMV. While the viability and morphology of HL-60 cells were not significantly affected by HCMV, the viability of THP-1 cells was dramatically decreased by HCMV infection. THP-1 cells infected with HCMV became aggregated and adhered to the surface of culture dishes, probably due to the increased expression of adherence molecules CD11b on the infected THP-1 cells. THP-1 cells established a latent HCMV infection were induced to differentiate by treatment with TPA and hydrocortisone. Recovery of infectious HCMV from the culture supernatant of differentiated THP-1 cells was dependent on the time of induction of differentiation after HCMV infection. Thus, in vitro model of reactivation of HCMV from latently infected monocytes was established.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.152-157
• /
• 1997

Infection of human fibroblast (HF) cells with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) result in changes in the intracellular level of second messengers. Since nitric oxide (NO) production has been known to be related with other second messengers, it is probable that HCMV infection of HF cells may involve NO. To test this possibility, the amount of NO was measured following ogenous addition of NO generators such as sodium nitroprusside (SNP) or S-nitroso-N-a-cetylpenicillamine (SNAP) immediately after HCMV infection, however, inhibited virus multiplication. Furthermore, immunoblot experiment using monoclonal antibody to HCMV major immediate early (MIE) proteins or CAT assay using pCMVIE/CAT (plasmid containing CAT gene driven by HCMV MIE promoter) revealed that SNP or SNAP blocked the MIE gene expression. SNP was more effective than SNAP in hibiting HCMV multiplication or MIE gene expression. SNP produced more NO than SNAP in inhibiting HCMV multiplication or MIE gene expression. SNP produced more NO than SNAP. Although the mechanism for the inhibition of HCMV multiplication and MIE gene expression by NO is still elusive some correlation with NO-mediated inhibition of HCMV-induced increase in cytosolic free Ca$\^$2+/ concentration ([Ca$\^$2+/]) was observed. The increase of [Ca$\^$2+/] following HCMV infection was inhibited by SNP, and less effectively by SNAP. Raising [Ca$\^$2+/ with bromo-A23187 partially reversed the SNP block of MIE gene expression. Thus, there appear to e some relationships among NO. [Ca$\^$2+/], and HCMV MIE gene expression.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.25-33
• /
• 1991

Antiviral activities of papaverine and nucleoside analogs, 9-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]guanine (DHPG) and acyclovir, against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection were compared in vitro. Papaverine and DHPG were effective in reducing infectious HCMV yields with $ED_{50}{\s}$ (effective dose 50: the concentraion at which 50% of virus yields was obtained) of approximately 1.02 and $0.45{\mu}{\M}$, respectively; while acyclovir was less effective with an $ED_{50}$ of about $10.4{\mu}{\M}$The relative cytotoxicity of these drugs was evaluated under the same conditions used to measure infectious HCMV yields. Papaverine and DHPG demonstrated little cellular toxicity as measured by their effect on the viability of confluent cells at concentrations in the range of those demonstrating potent inhibition of HCMV replication. Similarly, protein synthesis was largely unaffected by these drugs in stationary mock-infected cells as measured by the incorporation of isotopically labelled amino acids. In contrast, cellular DNA synthesis was invariably reduced in the presence of either drug. HCMV-specific DNA synthesis was also strongly inhibited by papaverine and DHPG.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.23 no.11
• /
• pp.1627-1635
• /
• 2013

Mitochondria often play central roles in apoptotic pathways, and disruption of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (${\Delta}{\psi}m$) has been observed in various cells undergoing apoptosis. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection induces apoptosis in permissive cells; however, investigations of mitochondria-targeted apoptosis in HCMV-infected human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cells have been limited. Here, we investigated the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in HCMV-infected HFF cells. Flow cytometry analysis using JC-1 revealed that HCMV infection induces disruption of ${\Delta}{\psi}m$ in HFF cells when administered 24 h post-infection (hpi), and this disruption was maximized at 48 hpi. Moreover, cytochrome c, normally a mitochondrial inner membrane protein, was detected in cytoplasmic extracts of HCMV-infected cells, but not mock-infected cells, by western blot analysis at 24 hpi. A caspase activity assay based on fluorescence spectrophotometry using a fluorogenic substrate revealed an increase in caspase-3 activity at 48 hpi in HCMV-infected cells. Caspase-8 activity was increased at 72 hpi in HCMV-infected cells. These results imply that HCMV infection induces mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in HFF cells.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.53-58
• /
• 1992

This 54-year-old Korean coal miner soBered from continuous watery diarrhea and weight loss after corticosteroid treatment(${\beta}-methasone$, 4 mg daily for 1 week) due to hip-bone fracture in January 1991. Except for the short therapy f steroid, no other histories were contributory. The malabsorption syndrome was aggravated while the case was treated under the impression of amebiasis or intestinal tuberculosis. AIDS antibody test by EIA was negative and quantitative analysis of serum immunoglobulins was in normal ranges. Nine months after the onset of symptoms, the case was diagnosed as malabsorption syndrome caused by complected and aggravated infection by Strengyleides stercoralis, Isospora and cytomegalovirus in the small intestine, which were proved by stool examination and duodenal biopsy. His clinical course became worse even after high-dosaged and prolonged albendazole treatment for strongyloidiasis with supportive quid therapy. The patient was discharged in hopeless status in November, 1991 and died after one week at home.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.255-259
• /
• 2000

For rapid and sensitive measurement of antiviral activities, application of a recombinant virus containing firefly luciferase gene was attempted. Recombinant human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) containing luciferase gene driven by HCMV late gene pp28 promoter (HCMV/pp28-luc) was used to test the antiviral activities of three known compounds and the result was compared with results from the conventional plaque assay for measuring the production of infectious viruses. When human fibroblast cells were infected with HCMV/pp28-luc, luciferase activity was observed at 2 days after infection and reached maximum at 6 days after infection, whereas the production of infectious virus was maximal at 4 days after infection. The antiviral activities of ganciclovir, acyclovir, and papaverine were measured in HFF cells infected with HCMV/PP28-luc and the luciferase activity was compared with the infectious virus titers. Luciferase activity decreased as the concentration of ganciclovir or papaverine increased, while there was a slight decrease in luciferase activity with acyclovir. The level of the decrease in Luciferase activity was comparable to the level of decrease in the production of infectious virus. Therefore, the antiviral assay using recombinant virus HCMV/pp28-luc resulted in sensitivity similar to the conventional plaque assay with a significant reduction in assay time.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.69-79
• /
• 2017

Viruses continue to evolve a new strategy to take advantage of every aspect of host cells in order to maximize their survival. Due to their central roles in transducing a variety of transmembrane signals, GPCRs seem to be a prime target for viruses to pirate for their own use. Incorporation of GPCR functionality into the genome of herpesviruses has been demonstrated to be essential for pathogenesis of many herpesviruses-induced diseases. Here, we introduce US28 of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) as the best-studied example of virally-encoded GPCRs to manipulate host GPCR signaling. In this review, we wish to summarize a number of US28-related topics including its regulation of host signaling pathways, its constitutive internalization, its structural and functional analysis, its roles in HCMV biology and pathogenesis, its proliferative activities and role in oncogenesis, and pharmacological modulation of its biological activities. This review will aid in our understanding of how pathogenic viruses usurp the host GPCR signaling for successful viral infection. This kind of knowledge will enable us to build a better strategy to control viral infection by normalizing the virally-dysregulated host GPCR signaling.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.542-548
• /
• 1999

The UL47 gene (b 60390-b 60388) located in the unique long region of the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) AD169 strain genome was analyzed RNA mapping. Northern blot analysis showed that the UL47 gene was expressed at late times after infection (72 h postinfection). The 9.7-kb transcript was expressed in the infected cells but not in phosphonoformate-treated cells at 72 hpi, indicating that the UL47 gene was only expressed at late times after infection. To map the 5'-end and 3'-end of UL47 transcripts, primer at late times after infection. To map the 5'-end and 3'-end of UL47 transcripts, primer extension and RNase protection analysis were performed. Primer extension analysis revealed that the transcription initiation site of UL47 was located in 27 bp downstream (b 60323) of the TATA box motif. The sizes of UL47 ORF (approximately 2.9-kb) and UL48 ORF (approximately 6.7-kb) deduced from computer sequence analysis suggest that the expressed 9.7-kb transcript of UL47 uses the 3'-end polyadenylation signal of Ul48. The result of RNase protection determined that the 3'-end of UL47 RNA utilized the 3'-end polyadenylation signal of UL48, which is located in HCMV genome b 70082.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.24-30
• /
• 2000

US3 gene is a member of the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) immediate early gene. Although the precise functions of the US3 gene in HCMV replication and pathogenesis are not known, it has been reported to play a role in inhibiting major histocompatibility class I antigen presentation. For further knowledge of US3 gene expression, rabbit polyclonal antiserum of the US3 gene product was used for indirect immunofluorescence assay. In permissive human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cells, US3 gene expression was detectable as crescent or half-moon shape in the perinuclear region at immediate early times after virus infection. HFF cells infected with mutant HCMV lacking US3 open reading frames were negative for US3 immunofluorescence assay. Double immunofluorescence assay using monoclonal antibody to gamma adaptin (specific for the Golgi complex) and rabbit anti-US3 antiserum revealed that US3 gene product could be localized to the Golgi complex. At later time after HCMV infection, US3 gene products were detected as globular aggregates in the cytosol. These aggregates were positive for gamma adaptin and stained with preimmune serum, suggesting a nonspecific reaction to the Golgi complex. Northern blot analysis revealed that transcription of US3 was observed only during immediate early times after virus infection (until 6 h postinfection). Therefore US3 gene expression appears to be confined to immediate early time and its gene products are localized to the Golgi complex as crescent shaped forms in the perinuclear cytoplasm.