The interaction of murine cytomegalovirus with murine neutrophils: effect on migratory and phagocytic activities

• Published in: Journal of leukocyte biology Vol. 38; no. 6; p. 723
• Main Authors: Bale, Jr, J F, O'Neil, M E, Greiner, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-12-1985
• Subjects: Adsorption; Animals; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; Cytomegalovirus - physiology; Cytomegalovirus - ultrastructure; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Microscopy, Electron; Neutrophils - microbiology; Neutrophils - physiology; Neutrophils - ultrastructure; Phagocytosis; Virion - ultrastructure
• ISSN: 0741-5400
• DOI: 10.1002/jlb.38.6.723

To investigate the interaction of cytomegalovirus (CMV) with neutrophils, we studied the effects of in vitro incubation of murine neutrophils with murine CMV (MCMV). Neutrophils incubated with MCMV for 4 h had depressed chemotactic activity, mean chemotactic index of 1.34 +/- 1.43 for MCMV-treated neutrophils vs 3.22 +/- 2.11 for controls. Engulfment of latex spheres by MCMV-treated neutrophils was also reduced. These differences were not attributable to loss of cell viability. UV-inactivation of MCMV pools abolished the inhibitory effects of MCMV, indicating that these effects were related to infectivity of the virus. Electron microscopic studies at 4 h demonstrated virus particles within the phagosomes of occasional neutrophils. These studies demonstrate that neutrophil functions can be altered by an in vitro interaction with infectious CMV and suggest that a direct effect of CMV on neutrophils could account for the abnormal neutrophil functions observed during animal CMV infections.