Limited replication of human cytomegalovirus in a trophoblast cell line

Hyde, K., Sultana, N., Tran, A. C., Bileckaja, N., Donald, C. L. , Kohl, A. , Stanton, R. J. and Strang, B. L. (2021) Limited replication of human cytomegalovirus in a trophoblast cell line. Journal of General Virology, 102(11), 001683. (doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.001683)

Abstract

Several viruses, including human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), are thought to replicate in the placenta. However, there is little understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in HCMV replication in this tissue. We investigated replication of HCMV in the extravillous trophoblast cell line SGHPL-4, a commonly used model of HCMV replication in the placenta. We found limited HCMV protein expression and virus replication in SGHPL-4 cells. This was associated with a lack of trophoblast progenitor cell protein markers in SGHPL-4 cells, suggesting a relationship between trophoblast differentiation and limited HCMV replication. We proposed that limited HCMV replication in trophoblast cells is advantageous to vertical transmission of HCMV, as there is a greater opportunity for vertical transmission when the placenta is intact and functional. Furthermore, when we investigated the replication of other vertically transmitted viruses in SGHPL-4 cells we found some limitation to replication of Zika virus, but not herpes simplex virus. Thus, limited replication of some, but not all, vertically transmitted viruses may be a feature of trophoblast cells.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by a Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund (204809/Z/16/Z to B. L. S.) and the UK Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12014/8 and MR/N017552/1 to A. K., MR/S00971X/1 to R. J. S.).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Donald, Dr Claire and Kohl, Professor Alain

Creator Roles

Donald, C. L.: Methodology, Resources, Writing – review and editing
Kohl, A.: Methodology, Resources, Writing – review and editing, Funding acquisition

• Authors: Hyde, K., Sultana, N., Tran, A. C., Bileckaja, N., Donald, C. L., Kohl, A., Stanton, R. J., and Strang, B. L.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
• Journal Name: Journal of General Virology
• Publisher: Microbiology Society
• ISSN: 0022-1317
• ISSN (Online): 1465-2099
• Published Online: 24 November 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Journal of General Virology 102(11):001683
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons Licence

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
172580		The emergence of Zika virus in Brazil: investigating prevalence and host responses to design preventive strategies	Alain Kohl	Medical Research Council (MRC)	MR/N017552/1	III-MRC-GU Centre for Virus Research