Human Cytomegalovirus Induces Cellular and Humoral Virus-specific Immune Responses in Humanized BLT Mice

Sci Rep. 2017 Apr 20;7(1):937. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-01051-5.

Abstract

The strict species specificity of Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has impeded our understanding of antiviral adaptive immune responses in the context of a human immune system. We have previously shown that HCMV infection of human hematopoietic progenitor cells engrafted in immune deficient mice (huNSG) results in viral latency that can be reactivated following G-CSF treatment. In this study, we characterized the functional human adaptive immune responses in HCMV latently-infected huBLT (humanized Bone marrow-Liver-Thymus) mice. Following infection, huBLT mice generate human effector and central memory CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses reactive to peptides corresponding to both IE and pp65 proteins. Additionally, both HCMV specific IgM and IgG B-cell responses with the ability to neutralize virus were detected. These results indicate that the HCMV huBLT mouse model may provide a valuable tool to study viral latency and reactivation as well as evaluate HCMV vaccines and immune responses in the context of a functional human immune system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cytomegalovirus / immunology*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / immunology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin M / immunology
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Liver Transplantation
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • Thymus Gland / transplantation
  • Transplantation, Heterologous

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M