Expression profile of human cytomegalovirus UL111A cmvIL-10 and LAcmvIL-10 transcripts in primary cells and cells from renal transplant recipients

Giovana W.C. Almeida, Martha T. Oliveira, Isabella G.L. Martines, Giuliano C. Fiori, Michael Martin Nevels, Ian J. Groves, John Sinclair, José Medina-Pestana, Rayra Sampaio da Silva, Monica Nakamura, Lucio Requião-Moura, Emma Poole, Maria C. Carlan da Silva*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a high-risk pathogen in immunocompromised individuals, especially in transplant recipients. HCMV viremia must be monitored, and frequently, patients are treated with antiviral agents. HCMV has a variety of strategies to modulate host antiviral responses, and one important player is a viral homolog of the cellular interleukin-10 (cIL-10). The viral UL111A gene produces several HCMV IL-10 transcripts and protein isoforms through alternative splicing. The cmvIL-10 (isoform A) has similar properties to cIL-10, while LAcmvIL-10 (isoform B) has more restricted biological properties. Other isoforms are produced (C to H) but have unknown functions. Here, we investigated the expression of the most abundant transcripts, cmvIL-10 and LAcmvIL-10, in productively and latently infected cells and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from renal transplant recipients up to 60 days post-transplantation. This study investigated HCMV cmvIL-10 and LAcmvIL-10 transcription profiles in vitro, in productive and latent infection, and in vivo, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of renal transplant patients. In vitro, both cmvIL-10 and LAcmvIL-10 transcripts were detected in both types at high levels and low levels in MRC-5 and latent infected (CD14+). When PBMCs from transplant patients were analyzed, LAcmvIL-10 was detected mostly sporadically and in only a few patients, while cmvIL-10 was found in all patients at all time points. Furthermore, it was observed in PBMCs that expression of cmvIL-10 was positively associated with an increase in viral DNA detection in the subsequently collected sample, indicating that expression of cmvIL-10 might precede viral DNA replication. These results contribute to the understanding of HCMV biology in different phases of infection. In addition, our initial analysis suggests that monitoring cmvIL-10, along with viral DNA, could improve early detection of HCMV reactivation in transplant recipients.
Original languageEnglish
Article number501
Number of pages15
JournalViruses
Volume17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Mar 2025

Keywords

  • human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)
  • UL111A transcripts
  • HCMV IL-10
  • HCMV latent infection
  • HCMV lytic infection
  • kidney transplant

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