Abstract
Purpose :
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has been recognized as a cause of endotheliitis and iridocyclitis, which are characterized by IOP elevation. However, the mechanism of IOP elevation remains obscure. We sought to determine whether CMV can efficiently replicate in trabecular meshwork cells and may cause lytic destruction of trabecular meshwork cells.
Methods :
Primary cultured human trabecular meshwork cells (HTMC) were infected with CMV strains, TB40/E or Towne. Using real-time PCR, western blot, and fluorescent immunostaining, we examined whether CMV-infected HTMC may support viral mRNA and protein expression, and genome replication. We then determined whether lytic replication is observed after infection.
Results :
When HTMC were infected with TB40/E or Towne, cytopathic effect characterized by owl’s eye appearance with viral antigen expression was observed. Synthesis of viral mRNA (IE1, glycoprotein B and pp65) and protein expression proceeded efficiently at multiplicity of infection(MOI) 5. Expression of IE1, gB and pp65 was localized to nucleus at 48 hours post infection and effective replication of viral genome was also observed similarly. HTMC after TB40/E infection produced a significant and comparable number of infectious virions to permissive human foreskin fibroblast cells.
Conclusions :
Human trabecular meshwork cells support efficient replication of CMV and may cause CMV-induced trabeculitis.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.