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Enhancement of susceptibility of adult mouse brain to cytomegalovirus infection by infusion of epidermal growth factor
Author(s) -
Han GuiPing,
Li Li,
Kosugi Isao,
Kawasaki Hideya,
Tsuchida Takashi,
Miura Kastsutoshi,
Tsutsui Yoshihiro
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.21410
Subject(s) - subventricular zone , nestin , neural stem cell , biology , epidermal growth factor , progenitor cell , precursor cell , ependymal cell , permissiveness , immunology , virus , virology , stem cell , viral replication , immunohistochemistry , cell , cell culture , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
Abstract Neural precursor cells, including neural stem and progenitor cells, in the subventricular zone (SVZ) are the main targets for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in developing brains. The neural precursor cells in the SVZ of the adult brain have been reported to respond by proliferating after infusion with epidermal growth factor (EGF). Here we report the susceptibility of the precursor cells in the adult mouse brain to murine CMV (MCMV) infection. Adult mouse brains from 10‐, 25‐, and 70‐week‐old (W) mice were infused with either phosphate‐buffered saline or EGF into the brain for 3 days, and then intracerebrally infected with MCMV for 5 days. The susceptibility of the adult brains to MCMV was significantly increased by infusion of EGF in terms of viral titers and viral antigen‐positive cells. The susceptibility of the young adult brain from 10‐week‐old mice to MCMV was higher than that of the adult brains from 25‐week‐old or 70‐week‐old mice. Both the ependymal and the SVZ cells were susceptible to MCMV infection. The number of virus‐infected cells in the SVZ was significantly increased by infusion of EGF, whereas the number of infected ependymal cells was not significantly increased. Among the virus‐infected cells in the SVZ, 73% were positive for nestin, 87% were positive for Musashi, 86% were positive for GFAP, and 96% were positive for PCNA. These results indicate that the susceptibility of the adult brain to MCMV is correlated with the proliferative ability of the neural precursor cells in the SVZ of the adult brain. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.