The expression of the cytomegalovirus chemokine receptor homolog US28 sequesters biologically active CC chemokines and alters IL-8 production

J Randolph-Habecker, B Rahill, B Torok-Storb, J Vieira… - Cytokine, 2002 - Elsevier
J Randolph-Habecker, B Rahill, B Torok-Storb, J Vieira, PE Kolattukudy, BH Rovin…
Cytokine, 2002Elsevier
We hypothesized that US28, a cytomegalovirus (CMV) CC chemokine receptor homolog,
plays a role in modulating the host antiviral defense. Monocyte chemotaxis was induced by
supernatants from fibroblasts infected with a US28 deletion mutant of CMV (CMVΔUS28)
due to endogenously produced CC chemokines MCP-1 and RANTES. However, these
chemokines were sequestered from the supernatants of CMV-infected cells that did express
US28. US28 was also capable of sequestering exogenously added RANTES. Surprisingly …
We hypothesized that US28, a cytomegalovirus (CMV) CC chemokine receptor homolog, plays a role in modulating the host antiviral defense. Monocyte chemotaxis was induced by supernatants from fibroblasts infected with a US28 deletion mutant of CMV (CMVΔUS28) due to endogenously produced CC chemokines MCP-1 and RANTES. However, these chemokines were sequestered from the supernatants of CMV-infected cells that did express US28. US28 was also capable of sequestering exogenously added RANTES. Surprisingly, cells infected with CMVΔUS28 transcribed and secreted increased levels IL-8, a CXC chemokine, when compared to CMV-infected cells. Finally, because chemokines are potent mediators of immune cell migration through the endothelium, we characterized the CC chemokine binding potential of CMV-infected endothelial cells. We propose that US28 functions as a ‘chemokine sink’ by sequestering endogenously and exogenously produced chemokines and alters the production of the CXC chemokine IL-8, suggesting that CMV could significantly alter the inflammatory milieu surrounding infected cells.
Elsevier