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HHV‐6 infects human aortic and heart microvascular endothelial cells, increasing their ability to secrete proinflammatory chemokines
Author(s) -
Caruso Arnaldo,
Rotola Antonella,
Comar Manola,
Favilli Flavia,
Galvan Monica,
Tosetti Maria,
Campello Cesare,
Caselli Elisabetta,
Alessandri Giulio,
Grassi Manuela,
Garrafa Emirena,
Cassai Enzo,
Di Luca Dario
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.10133
Subject(s) - chemokine , endothelium , umbilical vein , proinflammatory cytokine , biology , interleukin 8 , immunology , endothelial stem cell , virology , inflammation , in vitro , biochemistry , endocrinology
Endothelial cells are important targets for herpesvirus infection. To evaluate the biological effects of human herpesvirus‐6 (HHV‐6) infection, adult heart microvascular and aortic endothelial cells were examined for in vitro susceptibility to HHV‐6 and for the alterations induced by viral infection on the production of monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) and interleukin‐8 (IL‐8). Analysis by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction and by in situ polymerase chain reaction showed that HHV‐6 replicates in endothelium in the absence of cytopathic effects, and that viral sequences were present in 20% umbilical vein and in 10% aortic and 1% microvascular endothelium. HHV‐6 infection upregulated the production of MCP‐1 and IL‐8, with differences observed between aortic and microvascular endothelium. These findings demonstrate that endothelial cells represent a potential reservoir for HHV‐6 infection, and the altered pattern of chemokine production can lead to attraction of immunocompetent cells and to the development of inflammatory processes. J. Med. Virol. 67:528–533, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.