Alteration of nuclear lamina protein in human fibroblasts infected with cytomegalovirus (HCMV).

Immunoblotting with monoclonal as well as polyclonal lamin antibodies revealed that nuclear lamina proteins of human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF) were differentially affected after infection with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Lamin A immunoreactivity was progressively lost during the course of the infectious cycle whereas that of lamin C was comparatively stable. This process was not observed in herpes simplex virus-infected HFF. On the other hand, noninfected arrested HFF stimulated by serum to enter S-phase also exhibited loss of lamin A immunoreactivity. Selective in vivo proteolysis of lamin A is suggested as the possible underlying mechanism.