TY - JOUR
T1 - Infection of retinal neurons during murine cytomegalovirus retinitis
AU - Zhang, Ming
AU - Xin, Hua
AU - Roon, Penny
AU - Atherton, Sally S.
PY - 2005/6
Y1 - 2005/6
N2 - PURPOSE. Previous results suggest that retinal neurons are infected early during murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection of the inner retina. The purposes of this study were to identify which retinal neurons are infected and to determine the routes by which MCMV spreads in the retina. METHODS. Immunosuppressed (IS) BALB/c mice were inoculated with 5 × 103 PFU of MCMV (k181) through the supraciliary route. Injected eyes were collected at several times after inoculation, sectioned, and examined by electron microscopy and by staining for retinal cell antigens and for MCMV early (EA) or late (LA) antigen. RESULTS. MCMV-infected cells were observed in the choroid and RPE by day 3 after infection (PI) and in the inner retina beginning at day 5 PI. At this time, many horizontal and bipolar cells were MCMV-antigen-positive but only rare MCMV-infected amacrine cells (glycine positive or γ-aminobutyric acid [GABA] positive) or MCMV-infected ganglion cells (NF positive) were observed in the inner retina. At day 10 PI, most virus-infected cells were glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)- and GABA-positive glia. Virions were observed by electron microscopy in the choroid, RPE, and inner nuclear layer of the retina. Although virions were observed in the endothelium of the retinal vessels and the nearby retinal cells, the endothelial cell lining of the retinal vessels remained intact. Both apoptotic cells and necrotic cells were seen in the inner retina. CONCLUSIONS. In the inner retina, horizontal and bipolar cells were the early (≤ day 7 PI) targets of MCMV infection. Virus spread from the RPE and the photoreceptor layer to the inner retina through infected Müller cells and within the inner retina horizontally through infected horizontal cells.
AB - PURPOSE. Previous results suggest that retinal neurons are infected early during murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection of the inner retina. The purposes of this study were to identify which retinal neurons are infected and to determine the routes by which MCMV spreads in the retina. METHODS. Immunosuppressed (IS) BALB/c mice were inoculated with 5 × 103 PFU of MCMV (k181) through the supraciliary route. Injected eyes were collected at several times after inoculation, sectioned, and examined by electron microscopy and by staining for retinal cell antigens and for MCMV early (EA) or late (LA) antigen. RESULTS. MCMV-infected cells were observed in the choroid and RPE by day 3 after infection (PI) and in the inner retina beginning at day 5 PI. At this time, many horizontal and bipolar cells were MCMV-antigen-positive but only rare MCMV-infected amacrine cells (glycine positive or γ-aminobutyric acid [GABA] positive) or MCMV-infected ganglion cells (NF positive) were observed in the inner retina. At day 10 PI, most virus-infected cells were glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)- and GABA-positive glia. Virions were observed by electron microscopy in the choroid, RPE, and inner nuclear layer of the retina. Although virions were observed in the endothelium of the retinal vessels and the nearby retinal cells, the endothelial cell lining of the retinal vessels remained intact. Both apoptotic cells and necrotic cells were seen in the inner retina. CONCLUSIONS. In the inner retina, horizontal and bipolar cells were the early (≤ day 7 PI) targets of MCMV infection. Virus spread from the RPE and the photoreceptor layer to the inner retina through infected Müller cells and within the inner retina horizontally through infected horizontal cells.
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U2 - 10.1167/iovs.05-0005
DO - 10.1167/iovs.05-0005
M3 - Article
C2 - 15914622
AN - SCOPUS:22144483489
SN - 0146-0404
VL - 46
SP - 2047
EP - 2055
JO - Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
JF - Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
IS - 6
ER -