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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
Isolation and Culture of Primary Human Gingival Epithelial Cells using Y-27632
Published on: November 6, 2021
Infection of human cytomegalovirus in cultured human gingival tissue
Rong Hai1, Alice Chu, Hongjian Li
1Program in Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Program in Comparative Biochemistry, School of Public Health, 140 Warren Hall, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. ronghai@berkeley.edu
Background:
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection in the oral cavity plays an important role in its horizontal transmission and in causing viral-associated oral diseases such as gingivitis. However, little is currently known about HCMV pathogenesis in oral mucosa, partially because HCMV infection is primarily limited to human cells and few cultured tissue or animal models are available for studying HCMV infection.
Results:
In this report, we studied the infection of HCMV in a cultured gingival tissue model (EpiGingival, MatTek Co.) and investigated whether the cultured tissue can be used to study HCMV infection in the oral mucosa. HCMV replicated in tissues that were infected through the apical surface, achieving a titer of at least 300-fold at 10 days postinfection. Moreover, the virus spread from the apical surface to the basal region and reduced the thickness of the stratum coreum at the apical region. Viral proteins IE1, UL44, and UL99 were expressed in infected tissues, a characteristic of HCMV lytic replication in vivo. Studies of a collection of eight viral mutants provide the first direct evidence that a mutant with a deletion of open reading frame US18 is deficient in growth in the tissues, suggesting that HCMV encodes specific determinants for its infection in oral mucosa. Treatment by ganciclovir abolished viral growth in the infected tissues.
Conclusion:
These results suggest that the cultured gingival mucosa can be used as a tissue model for studying HCMV infection and for screening antivirals to block viral replication and transmission in the oral cavity.
Insights
A new gingival tissue model effectively replicates human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) oral infections, aiding research into viral pathogenesis and antiviral screening for transmission control.
Area of Science:
- Oral microbiology
- Virology
- Tissue engineering
Background:
- Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) oral cavity infections are key to transmission and oral diseases like gingivitis.
- HCMV oral mucosa pathogenesis is poorly understood due to limited human cell models.
- Lack of suitable animal or tissue models hinders HCMV oral infection research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish and validate a cultured gingival tissue model for studying HCMV infection.
- To investigate HCMV pathogenesis within the oral mucosa using this novel model.
- To assess the utility of the model for antiviral screening.
Main Methods:
- Infection of EpiGingival (MatTek Co.) cultured gingival tissue with HCMV via apical surface.
- Quantification of viral replication and spread over 10 days post-infection.
- Analysis of viral protein expression (IE1, UL44, UL99) and tissue changes (stratum corneum thickness).
- Evaluation of viral mutants (US18 deletion) and ganciclovir treatment efficacy.
Main Results:
- HCMV replicated significantly (≥300-fold) in the cultured gingival tissue.
- The virus spread apico-basally and thinned the stratum corneum.
- HCMV lytic replication markers (viral proteins) were detected.
- A US18 deletion mutant showed impaired growth, indicating specific oral mucosa determinants.
- Ganciclovir treatment completely inhibited viral replication.
Conclusions:
- Cultured gingival mucosa serves as a viable model for HCMV oral infection studies.
- This model facilitates research into HCMV oral pathogenesis and transmission.
- The model is effective for screening antiviral compounds against HCMV replication.
