Effects of differentiation of human macrophage-like U937 cells on intrinsic resistance to herpes simplex virus type 1.

We have characterized the effect of differentiation on the resistance of the mononuclear phagocyte to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) by using the human mononuclear phagocyte cell line, U937. The replication of HSV-1 was compared in undifferentiated U937 cells and U937 cells induced to undergo differentiation. Undifferentiated U937 cells were highly resistant to HSV-1 infection. Infectious virus levels declined rapidly to less than 0.1 plaque-forming units (PFU) per cell by 24 hr postinfection and the cells were completely resistant to HSV-1-induced cytopathic effect. Differentiation of U937 cells by treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was accompanied by a decrease in the resistance to HSV-1 infection. Infectious virus yields were increased greater than 75-fold at 24 hr postinfection, as compared with the undifferentiated U937 cells. PMA-differentiated U937 cells also acquired full susceptibility to HSV-1-induced cytopathic effect. Infectious center assay revealed that the percent of productively infected cells increased from approximately 3% in undifferentiated U937 to greater than 50% in PMA-differentiated cells. U937 cells were also induced to differentiate by treatment with all-trans-retinoic acid, dimethyl sulfoxide, and lymphokine as shown by differentiation-associated changes in morphology and cytochemical enzymes. These cells, however, failed to display increased permissiveness for HSV-1, indicating that the change in permissiveness was uniquely associated with PMA treatment. Undifferentiated U937 cells adsorbed as much virus as PMA-differentiated cells, but immunofluorescence assays, as well as DNA hybridization analysis demonstrated that an early block in HSV-1 replication occurred in undifferentiated U937 cells, before synthesis of viral protein and DNA. PMA-induced differentiation of U937 cells appears to release an early block in HSV-1 replication that is present in undifferentiated U937 cells.