ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to observe the infection of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) to human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and its effect on the expression of single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSBP1) and on lipid metabolism in endothelial cells. We screened the differential expression of mRNAs after HCMV infection by suppression subtractive hybridization and the expression levels of SSBP1 mRNA and protein after HCMV infection by real-time PCR and western blot. After verification of successful infection by indirect immunofluorescent staining and RT-PCR, we found a differential expression of lipid metabolism-related genes including LDLR, SCARB, CETP, HMGCR, ApoB and LPL induced by HCMV infection. The expression levels of SSBP1 mRNA and protein after HCMV infection were significantly down-regulated. Furthermore, we found that upregulation of SSBP1 inhibited the expression of atherosclerosis-associated LDLR, SCARB, HMGCR, CETP as well as the accumulation of lipids in the cells. The results showed that the inhibition of SSBP1 by HCMV infection promotes lipid accumulation in the cells.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cytomegalovirus Infections/metabolism , DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/metabolism , Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/virology , Lipid Metabolism/physiology , Mitochondrial Proteins/metabolism , Atherosclerosis/metabolism , Atherosclerosis/virology , Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins/metabolism , Cholesterol/analysis , DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , Down-Regulation , Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases/metabolism , Lipid Metabolism/genetics , Mitochondrial Proteins/genetics , Receptors, LDL/metabolism , Scavenger Receptors, Class B/metabolism , Time FactorsABSTRACT
In order to evaluate whether immunosuppressive agents such as mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and azathioprine would differently influence the outcome of the renal transplants, we prospectively analyzed the incidence of acute rejection episodes, cytomegalovirus infection within the first 6 months following renal transplantation and 5 yr graft survival rate after minimizing influences of donor factors by grafting the same cadaveric donor kidney. There was no significant difference in sex, HLA mismatch, cold ischemic time, and patients' weight between the two groups. Contrary to the previous studies which demonstrated that MMF could lower the incidence of acute rejection episodes and improved graft survival rate, the two groups showed no significant difference in the incidence of acute rejection episodes and 5-yr graft survival rate as well. This discrepancy in these results might explain that donor factors could be important to cadaveric renal transplantation. Thus, we suggest that the influences of donor factors should be considered in further clinical studies of cadaveric renal transplantation.