Comparison of M1- and M2-monocyte derived macrophages (MΦ) in early events of human cytomegalovirus infection

Abstract

Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous herpesvirus causing high morbidity in individuals with an impaired immune defense. The two major types of monocyte-derived macrophages in vitro (MΦ), M1-MΦ and M2-MΦ, are unequally susceptible to infection by HCMV. Anti-inflammatory, anti-immunogenic M2-MΦ get infected about twofold compared to pro-inflammatory, immunogenic M1-MΦ. In this study differences between the two cell subsets regarding early HCMV infection were examined. The hypothesis in this study was particularly, that dissimilar expression of possible entry receptors or intrinsic restriction factors of viral infection define the different susceptibility.