Effect of dimethyl sulfoxide on interaction of human cytomegalovirus with host cell: conversion of a nonproductive state of cell to a productive state for virus replication.

The effect of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on the interaction of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) with host cell was studied. Confluent state of a human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line (A204) showed a much lower susceptibility to HCMV infection when compared to that in subconfluent actively growing cell cultures. Treatment of confluent cultures with DMSO, however, converted many nonproductive cells in these cultures to a productive state for virus replication. Infectious center assay revealed that approximately 100-fold more cells in the compound-treated cultures are able to produce infectious virus. The amount of infectious virus produced in DMSO-treated confluent cultures was enhanced by approximately 10,000-fold over production in untreated cultures and recovered to the level of that produced in subconfluent cultures productive state for virus replication. This cell physiology-dependent inhibition of HCMV replication and enhancement of virus growth by DMSO did not occur with herpes simplex virus type 2. Immunofluorescence staining, gel electrophoresis, and DNA analyses indicate that block of HCMV replication in confluent cultures probably occurs at the level of early transcription or translation of the viral genome. In contrast, in DMSO-treated confluent cultures appreciable amounts of HCMV DNA polymerase (an early virus function), viral DNA, and late antigens were synthesized. Pretreatment of confluent cultures with DMSO enabled the cells to support HCMV replication. In addition, the most effective enhancement by DMSO was found in cultures that had been treated with the compound up to 5 hr after infection. These results suggest that the enhancing effect by DMSO is primarily expressed through some host cellular function(s) and the early stages in virus growth cycle are most likely under control by DMSO action.