Detection of Human Cytomegalovirus in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes in a Natural Infection

作者：Rachel D. Schrier, Jay A. Nelson, Michael B. A. Oldstone · 发表于：Science · 年份：1985 · DOI：10.1126/science.2997930 · 被引用次数：363 · 研究领域：Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research、Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments、Immune Cell Function and Interaction

In situ hybridization was used to detect human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of some naturally infected (seropositive) individuals. A subpopulation of cells hybridized specifically to a portion of the HCMV genome that is heavily transcribed during the immediate-early period of infection. The hybridization signal was markedly reduced by base hydrolysis and ribonuclease, and therefore the probe appears to be detecting viral RNA. A fluorescence-activated cell sorter was used to select lymphocytes bearing the OKT4 and OKT8 markers. Hybridization with the HCMV probe revealed a higher proportion of positive cells in the OKT4 than in the OKT8 subset. This observation specifically identifies lymphocytes as a cell population involved in natural HCMV infection and suggests that lymphocytes may be a reservoir for maintaining infection and may also serve as a vehicle for its spread by blood transfusion.