FIBROBLASTS, EPITHELIAL-CELLS, ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS AND SMOOTH-MUSCLE CELLS ARE MAJOR TARGETS OF HUMAN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS-INFECTION IN LUNG AND GASTROINTESTINAL TISSUES

摘要: High titre replication of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in cell culture is restricted to primary fibroblasts. During acute infection vivo, HCMV nucleic acids and antigens have been found various organs. Using only morphological criteria, inconsistent data reported about the types that can be infected by HCMV. In particular, role fibroblasts organ infections has remained unclear. To define accurately target cells tissue sections from lung gastrointestinal tract patients suffering were investigated using immunohistochemical double-labelling analyses. Monoclonal antibodies with defined specificity against immediate early (IE), (E) late (L) viral directed marker proteins employed identify cells. The results demonstrated a broad spectrum was vivo. Consistent their susceptibility culture, formed major population HCMV-infected contrast, haemopoietic infrequently stained virus-specific antibodies. Fibroblasts, epithelial cells, endothelial smooth muscle macrophages appeared permissive for replication. Contrary this, polymorphonuclear showed IE gene expression, indicating these abortively infected. analysis distribution supported hypothesis monocytes/macrophages may play crucial haematogenous spread HCMV; fibroblasts, form populations important multiplication virus tissues.