Role of caveolin ‐ 1 in the entry of HCMV into human extravillous trophoblast cells

Abstract

ObjectiveTo establish the cell model of HCMV infect human extravillous trophoblast cells (EVTs)and use this valuable cell model to study the role of caveolin‐1 in the entry of HCMV into EVTs.MethodsEVTs separated from early gestation villous tissue (5–6 weeks gestation) was used to establish the cell model of HCMV infection. The dynamic change of caveolin‐1 in EVTs after infection of HCMV was characterized by using flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry and RT‐PCR.ResultsThe positive products of HCMV immediate early protein can be observed in the nucleuses of infected cells using immunocytochemistry method, mRNA from HCMV IE gene was detected in the EVT cells 24 and 36 hours after infection. The result of flow cytometry shows that the percentage of EVTs apoptosis does not increase at early period, but improve 48 hours later after infection; The expression of caveolin‐1 in uninfected EVT cells is higher, began to reduce at 12 hours after infection, the lowest expression of caveolin‐1 occurs at 24 hours after infection. The expression of caveolin‐1 began to increase at 48 hours, with peak expression occurring at 96 hours after infection.ConclusionEstablished a cell model of HCMV infect EVT cells successfully. The dynamic change of caveolin‐1 in EVTs imply that HCMV enters EVT cells via unique endocytic pathway that involves caveolae/caveolin‐1.