Open AccessTransforming growth factor beta production during rat cytomegalovirus infection.
Author(s) -
Bart L. Haagmans,
K. J. Teerds,
A.J.M. van den Eijnden-van Raaij,
Marian C. Horzinek,
Virgil E. C. J. Schijns
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of general virology
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.55
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1465-2099
pISSN - 0022-1317
DOI - 10.1099/0022-1317-78-1-205
Subject(s) - biology , cytomegalovirus , immunosuppression , transforming growth factor , splenocyte , cytokine , spleen , immunology , virology , virus , betaherpesvirinae , transforming growth factor beta , bone marrow , herpesviridae , viral disease , endocrinology
We analysed the production of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) during a cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in a rat model system. Splenocytes from immunocompetent rats infected with rat CMV (RCMV) released increased amounts of TGF-beta1. TGF-beta production was also evident in RCMV-infected radiation-immunosuppressed rats; their sera inhibited the interleukin 2-induced proliferation of T cells, which could be restored by anti-TGF-beta antibodies. In addition, TGF-beta production could be visualized immunohistologically in the lungs, spleen, liver and bone marrow of radiation-immunosuppressed infected rats. The virus directly induced this cytokine since TGF-beta was produced upon RCMV infection in vitro. The induction of TGF-beta production may contribute to immunosuppression during CMV infection.