ABSTRACT
Objective: This paper is aimed at to evaluate B7-H1 expression as induced by human cytomegalovirus [HCMV] in extravillous cytotrophoblast cell line HPT-8 and possible underlying mechanism
Method: Real time PCR and flow cytometry were used to determine B7-H1 mRNA and protein before and after HCMV infection in HPT-8 cells. Western blot analysis was used to determine the level of MAPK phosphorylation in HPT-8 cell lines infected with HCMV
Results: 100TCID50 was found to be the most effective dose, capable of stimulating B7-H1 mRNA and protein expression in HPT-8 cells. When empty control group was considered to have a B7-H1 mRNA value of 1, B7-H1 mRNA was 4.32 in 100TCID50 group. In flow cytometry study, mean fluorescence intensity [MFI] of 100TCID50 group was 16.14, while empty control group was 1.34. Both mRNA and protein expression were found to be significantly increased [P < 0.05] in 100TCID50 group compared to empty control group
The result of Western blot analysis showed increase in B7-H1 expression caused by the extracellular signaling that was related to ERK activation and the ERK inhibitor U0126 was found to reverse this increase
Conclusion: HCMV upregulates B7-H1 expression in human extravillous cytotrophoblast cell line HPT-8, which is related to MAPK activation. Our result would be helpful in finding better therapies against intrauterine HCMV infection