Abstract

The effect of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) on three human monocyte cell lines at different stages of differentiation was investigated. While the viability of HL-60 cells or U-937 cells was not significantly affected by HCMV infection, the viability of THP-1 cells was reduced. Acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining revealed that the reduction of THP-1 cell viability was due to increased apoptotic death following HCMV infection. Apoptosis in HL-60 cells was not affected by HCMV infection, and induction of apoptosis of U-937 cells by HCMV was intermediate between HL-60 and THP-1 cells. Since HL-60 cells are the least differentiated and THP-1 cells are the most differentiated, the induction of apoptosis of human monocytes appears to be related to the degree of cell differentiation. Flow cytometric and confocal microscopic studies using fluorescent calcium indicator Fluo-3 suggested a significant increase in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca^2+ ]_i ) in THP-1 cells undergoing apoptosis by HCMV infection. Again [Ca^2+ ]_i in HCMV-infected HL-60 cells was not critically altered, and that in HCMV-infected U-937 cells was intermediate between THP-1 cells and HL-60 cells. Calcium influx blockers such as verapamil and nifedipine partially reversed HCMV-induced apoptosis in THP-1 cells.

• Keywords: human cytomegalovirus; apoptosis; monocytes; calcium