Hepatocytes are permissive for human cytomegalovirus infection in human liver cell culture and in vivo

The cytopathic potential of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in human liver cel ls was analyzed in cell culture and in tissue sections from patients with H CMV hepatitis. Liver cell cultures, consisting of hepatocytes, bile duct ep ithelial cells, and stromal cells were infected by various HCMV strains. Cy topathic effects, viral gene expression, and virus production were detected . Infected cell types were identified by immunocytochemical double labeling . Hepatocytes were the predominant target cells of HCMV infection in liver tissues and in cell culture. Late-stage infected cultured hepatocytes produ ced infectious progeny virus, and infectious virus was propagated from live r tissue specimens. HCMV infection in cultured liver cells closely resemble d in vivo infection of the liver with regard to the target cell spectrum an d the permissive course of infection. It is concluded that HCMV can cause d irect liver parenchyma damage by efficient cytolytic infection of hepatocyt es.