CYTOFLUOROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF EFFECTS OF INTERFERONS ON EXPRESSION OFHUMAN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS PROTEINS

The appearance of cytomegalovirus (CMV) proteins in infected fibroblas ts was determined by flow cytometry. The sequential production of imme diate early (IE), early (E), and late (L) proteins reacting with respe ctive monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) E13, 58/5, and 24/4 was determined in fibroblasts infected with the AD-169 strain of CMV. The percentage of cells expressing CMV proteins and the intensity of fluorescence wit hin cells were determined from day 1 to day 7 post-infection. The effe ct of interferons (IFNs) alpha, beta, gamma on expression of CMV prote ins was analyzed using flow cytometry. IFNs inhibited E and L protein production at days 3 and 6 post-infection in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibitory effect on protein expression was associated with a red uction in release of infectious CMV into culture media. The method des cribed here for detection of CMV proteins using flow cytometry may be useful for basic studies of gene expression and for diagnostic purpose s.