The influence of HLA-B27 on the infectivity of cytomegalovirus for mouse fibroblasts.

It has been reported that CMV particles are covered with host beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m). Such viral particles possible use HLA class I alpha-chains as receptors. We could however not reproduce these findings, since beta 2m was not found on CMV particles using electron microscopy. Furthermore, preincubation of target cells with antibodies to HLA class I molecules did not impair infectivity. Performing such experiments it was noted that HLA-B27 transfected mouse fibroblasts were more vulnerable for CMV infection than mouse cells transfected with other HLA class I molecules.