Induction of B7-H1 expression by human cytomegalovirus in extravillous cytotrophoblast cells and role of MAPK pathway

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.