Human herpesvirus 6A infects human embryonic fibroblasts and induces G2/M arrest and cell death

• Published in: Journal of medical virology 2012-04, Vol.84 (4), p.657-663
• Main Authors: Li, Lingyun, Gu, Bin, Zhou, Feng, Chi, Jing, Wang, Fang, Liu, Genyan, Ding, Chuanlin, Xie, Fangyi, Qing, Jian, Guo, Yidi, Yao, Kun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; cell cycle arrest; Cell Death; Cell Division; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; Fibroblasts - pathology; Fibroblasts - virology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Herpesvirus 6, Human - pathogenicity; human embryonic fibroblasts; Human herpesvirus 6; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Viral diseases; Virology
• ISSN: 0146-6615; 1096-9071
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.23226

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV‐6) is a beta‐herpesvirus capable of infecting cells from different origin. In this study, infection with HHV‐6A of human embryonic fibroblasts (HEFs) was performed. Infected cells showed obvious cytopathic effects (CPE). PCR and immunohistochemical tests also confirmed that HEFs are susceptible to HHV‐6A infection. The biological effects of HHV‐6A infection on HEFs were studied. Infected cells showed decreased proliferation as measured by [3H] thymidine incorporation and cell counting. Further analysis demonstrated that infection with HHV‐6A leads to cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and increasing cell death. This is the first demonstration that infection of HEFs with HHV‐6A causes profound alterations of cell properties. J. Med. Virol. 84:657–663, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.