Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells are fully permissive for human cytomegalovirus infection

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Stem Cell Biology
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• Congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is a primary cause of birth defects, often leading to multi-organ maldevelopment.
• Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are crucial for organ formation and development.
• The susceptibility of MSCs to HCMV infection remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are susceptible to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection.
• To explore the role of MSCs in the pathogenesis of congenital HCMV infection and associated birth defects.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and characterization of MSCs from human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly.
• Infection of MSCs with the HCMV Towne strain.
• Assessment of viral entry, replication, protein expression, and infectious virion release using western blotting, immunofluorescence, and plaque assays.

Main Results:

• Isolated MSCs demonstrated full permissiveness to HCMV infection.
• Evidence of viral entry, replication initiation, protein expression, and release of infectious virions was observed in infected MSCs.
• These findings indicate MSCs are a viable target for HCMV.

Conclusions:

• MSCs are fully permissive to HCMV infection.
• This permissiveness provides a potential mechanism for multi-organ malformation in congenital HCMV infections.
• Further research into MSCs' role in HCMV pathogenesis is warranted for non-nervous system diseases.