Induction of latent human cytomegalovirus by conventional gamma irradiation and prevention by treatment with INACTINE PEN110.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Two different leucocyte-inactivation technologies--gamma irradiation and INACTINE PEN110--were evaluated for their effects on cell-associated human cytomegalovirus (CMV).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In vitro CMV-infected cells were spiked into leucoreduced red blood cell concentrates (RCC) or medium at a final concentration of 0.5 - 1 x 10(7) cells/ml to mimic non-leucoreduced levels of leucocytes. The spiked RCC/medium was divided into three equal units and treated with gamma irradiation at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved dose of 25 Gy, with 0.1% v/v PEN110 at 22 degrees C for 24 h, or stored at 4 degrees C as a control. The treated and control cells were recovered and tested using infectivity, viability and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays.

RESULTS

Gamma-irradiated CMV-infected cells produced active virus, as shown by both infectivity assays and PCR quantification of viral DNA. PCR analysis demonstrated higher CMV DNA levels in gamma-irradiated, latently infected monocytic THP-1 cells than untreated control cells. The increased virus production in gamma-irradiated cells was paralleled by an increased metabolic rate and the development of enlarged multinuclear cells. In contrast, PEN110 treatment terminated virus replication and completely inactivated the infected cell.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that gamma irradiation, at levels currently used to treat RCC, has the capacity to induce expression of CMV, whereas PEN110 inhibits CMV replication and efficiently inactivates the infected cells.