1. Human Cytomegalovirus Reduces Endothelin-1 Expression in Both Endothelial and Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
- Author
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Yaiw, Koon-Chu, Mohammad, Abdul-Aleem, Taher, Chato, Cui, Huanhuan Leah, Costa, Helena, Kostopoulou, Ourania N., Jung, Masany, Assinger, Alice, Wilhelmi, Vanessa, Yang, Jiangning, Strååt, Klas, Rahbar, Afsar, Pernow, John, and Söderberg-Nauclér, Cecilia
- Subjects
human cytomegalovirus ,QH301-705.5 ,viruses ,endothelin-1 ,immediate-early ,Biology (General) ,Article ,endothelial cells ,smooth muscle cells - Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is an opportunistic pathogen that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictive peptide, is overexpressed and strongly associated with many vasculopathies. The main objective of this study was to investigate whether HCMV could affect ET-1 production. As such, both endothelial and smooth muscle cells, two primary cell types involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, were infected with HCMV in vitro and ET-1 mRNA and proteins were assessed by quantitative PCR assay, immunofluorescence staining and ELISA. HCMV infection significantly decreased ET-1 mRNA and secreted bioactive ET-1 levels from both cell types and promoted accumulation of the ET-1 precursor protein in infected endothelial cells. This was associated with inhibition of expression of the endothelin converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1), which cleaves the ET-1 precursor protein to mature ET-1. Ganciclovir treatment did not prevent the virus suppressive effects on ET-1 expression. Consistent with this observation we identified that the IE2-p86 protein predominantly modulated ET-1 expression. Whether the pronounced effects of HCMV in reducing ET-1 expression in vitro may lead to consequences for regulation of the vascular tone in vivo remains to be proven.
- Published
- 2021