- 作者：Hidetaka Sadanari ; Tsugiya Murayama ; Xin Zheng ; Rie Yamada ; Keiko Matsubara ; Haruno Yoshida ; Takashi Takahashi
- 关键词：gene-transfected cells ; human cytomegalovirus ; immediate&ndash ; early 1 protein ; statins ; virus-infected cells
- 刊名：Journal of Experimental & Clinical Medicine
- 出版年：2013
- 出版时间：October, 2013
- 年：2013
- 卷：5
- 期：5
- 页码：187-193
- 全文大小：826 K
Purpose
We have found previously that statins block human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replication in human embryonic lung fibroblast (HEL) cells with reduced levels of viral immediate-early 1 (IE1) protein. To explore the mechanisms involved in inhibition by statins, we investigated the effects of statins on IE1 protein expression.Methods and results
In transient transfection experiments using a reporter plasmid carrying a luciferase gene under control of HCMV major immediate-early enhancer/promoter (MIEP), the statins had no effect on the MIEP activity in HEL cells. In U373-IE1 cells established by transfection with the IE1 gene driven by the MIEP into astrocytoma U373-MG cells, which are permissive for HCMV infection, the presence of statins did not affect IE1 protein expression. To investigate the difference in results between virus-infected and gene-transfected cells, we used UV-irradiated HCMV, which is capable only of binding to and internalizing in the cells. The experiments with UV-irradiated HCMV demonstrated that statins decreased IE1 protein expression in U373-IE1 cells infected with UV-inactivated virus.
Conclusion
Virus-host responses triggered by UV-irradiated HCMV particle binding and penetration, occurring at an early stage of infection, might contribute to the inhibition of IE1 protein expression by statins.