Cytomegalovirus infection increases the expression and activity of ecto-ATPase (CD39) and ecto-5 ' nucleotidase (CD73) on endothelial cells

We describe enhanced expression and enzymatic activity of ecto-ATPase and e cto-5' nucleotidase on CMV infected endothelial cells as compared to uninfe cted cells, These ectoenzymes play a major role in modulation of platelet a ctivation and aggregation. Furthermore, adenosine has a modulatory effect u pon inflammation. Addition of ATP, ADP or AMP to cultures of CMV infected o r uninfected endothelial cells revealed increased turnover of AMP in CMV in fected endothelial cells. in addition, the superoxide production by stimula ted polymorphonuclear cells was inhibited in the presence of CMV infected e ndothelial cells as compared to uninfected cells, probably due to the enhan ced activity of ecto-5'-nucleotidase and associated to production of adenos ine. (C) 2001 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by El sevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.