Human Cytomegalovirus US28 Ligand Binding Activity Is Required for Latency in CD34 ⁺ Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells and Humanized NSG Mice

Abstract

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection of CD34+hematopoietic progenitor cells (CD34+HPCs) provides a critical reservoir of virus in stem cell transplant patients, and viral reactivation remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The HCMV chemokine receptor US28 is implicated in the regulation of viral latency and reactivation. To explore the role of US28 signaling in latency and reactivation, we analyzed protein tyrosine kinase signaling in CD34+HPCs expressing US28. US28-ligand signaling in CD34+HPCs induced changes in key regulators of cellular activation and differentiation.In vitrolatency and reactivation assays utilizing CD34+HPCs indicated that US28 was required for viral reactivation but not latency establishment or maintenance. Similarly, humanized NSG mice (huNSG) infected with TB40E-GFP-US28stop failed to reactivate upon treatment with granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor, but viral genome levels were maintained. Interestingly, HCMV-mediated changes in hematopoiesis during latencyin vivoandin vitrowas also dependent upon US28, as US28 directly promoted differentiation toward the myeloid lineage. To determine whether US28 constitutive activity and/or ligand-binding activity were required for latency and reactivation, we infected both huNSG mice and CD34+HPCsin vitrowith HCMV TB40E-GFP containing the US28-R129A mutation (no CA) or Y16F mutation (no ligand binding). TB40E-GFP-US28-R129A was maintained during latency and exhibited normal reactivation kinetics. In contrast, TB40E-GFP-US28-Y16F exhibited high levels of viral genome during latency and reactivation, indicating that the virus did not establish latency. These data indicate that US28 is necessary for viral reactivation and ligand binding activity is required for viral latency, highlighting the complex role of US28 during HCMV latency and reactivation.IMPORTANCEHuman cytomegalovirus (HCMV) can establish latency following infection of CD34+hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs), and reactivation from latency is a significant cause of viral disease and accelerated graft failure in bone marrow and solid-organ transplant patients. The precise molecular mechanisms of HCMV infection in HPCs are not well defined; however, select viral gene products are known to regulate aspects of latency and reactivation. The HCMV-encoded chemokine receptor US28, which binds multiple CC chemokines as well as CX3CR1, is expressed both during latent and lytic phases of the virus life cycle and plays a role in latency and reactivation. However, the specific timing of US28 expression and the role of ligand binding in these processes are not well defined. In this report, we determined that US28 is required for reactivation but not for maintaining latency. However, when present during latency, US28 ligand binding activity is critical to maintaining the virus in a quiescent state. We attribute the regulation of both latency and reactivation to the role of US28 in promoting myeloid lineage cell differentiation. These data highlight the dynamic and multifunctional nature of US28 during HCMV latency and reactivation.

Human Cytomegalovirus Infection Suppresses CD34+ Progenitor Cell Engraftment in Humanized Mice

“…This new HCMV-huBLT mouse model provides an ideal system to examine the effects of different viral genes on hematopoiesis that are generally too complex for tissue culture-based systems and impossible to experimentally approach in human patients. We recently published that both HCMV UL7 and US28 are required for the expansion of the CD14 + monocyte population in the huNSG model [26,27]. This novel model system will provide a tractable in vivo system in which to determine the effect of these and other viral genes during HSCT.…”

Cell signaling and cytomegalovirus reactivation: what do Src family kinases have to do with it?

“…A second viral gene product, US28, encodes for a GPCR that can modulate cell signaling pathways during both latent and lytic infection [56,57]. Fascinatingly, US28 can either repress or activate the same pathways in a cell type-specific manner providing HCMV with molecular tool to hijack and re-direct host cell signaling [58].…”

Human Cytomegalovirus Infection Suppresses CD34+ Progenitor Cell Engraftment in Humanized Mice

“…This new HCMV-huBLT mouse model provides an ideal system to examine the effects of different viral genes on hematopoiesis that are generally too complex for tissue culture based systems and impossible to experimentally approach in human patients. We recently published that both HCMV UL7 and US28 are required for the expansion of the CD14 + monocyte population in the huNSG model [21,22]. This novel model system will provide a tractable in vivo system in which to determine the effect of these and other viral genes during HSCT.…”