Previous Article | Next Article ![]()
J. Virol., 01 1998, 95-103, Vol 72, No. 1
AJ Koffron, M Hummel, BK Patterson, S Yan, DB Kaufman, JP Fryer, FP Stuart and MI Abecassis
Herpesviruses typically establish latent infection in their hosts. The
cell(s) responsible for harboring latent virus, in most cases, is not
known. Using immunofluorescence and PCR-in situ hybridization (PISH), a
technique which combines the sensitivity of PCR with the localization and
specificity of in situ hybridization, we provide the first direct evidence
that endothelial cells are a major site of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV)
DNA in latently infected animals. These findings are consistent with
existing knowledge of the biological behavior of CMV, in particular the
transmission of latent CMV by solid organ and bone marrow transplantation,
in both human and animal models. In addition, we have localized MCMV DNA in
the lung alveolar macrophage and in bone marrow cells. Our findings confirm
that bone marrow-derived hematopoietic cells are a site of CMV latency and
further suggest that bone marrow may be a reservoir of infected progeny
capable of migrating into the circulation and establishing latency in
various tissues. These findings provide clearly needed insight into the
site of latent infection which is central to an understanding of the
mechanisms of reactivation.
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology
Cellular localization of latent murine cytomegalovirus
Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
This article has been cited by other articles:
Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology. For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»