IMBALANCE IN PRODUCTION OF CYTOKINES BY BONE-MARROW STROMAL CELLS FOLLOWING CYTOMEGALOVIRUS-INFECTION

The effect of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection on the production of gro wth factors and negative regulators in unstimulated or lipopolysacchar ide-stimulated human bone marrow stromal cells was assessed. After 5 d ays, the constitutive and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated production of growth factors was significantly decreased in CMV-infected compared wi th uninfected stromal cells, This decrease was noted as early as 72 h after infection and appeared to be strictly related to viral replicati on, On the other hand, the production of inhibitory factors was increa sed after CMV infection, and this increased release was detectable as early as 24 h after infection. No modulation in the production of inte rleukin-10 was observed after CMV infection, These data suggest that C MV disturbs the balanced cytokine network, which controls proliferatio n and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitors. CMV-induced myelos uppression results from this lack of production of growth factors and excess production of inhibitory factors.