Regulation of expression of the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) gene by products of the human cytomegalovirus immediate early genes.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed patients, can itself alter immune function. It has previously been shown that HCMV immediate early (IE) gene products regulate the IL-1 beta promoter. The purpose of these studies was to determine whether HCMV IE gene products regulate expression of the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) gene. THP-1 cells, a myelomonocytic cell line, were transfected with a plasmid containing one or more of the HCMV IE genes downstream of the HCMV major immediate early promoter, or with a control plasmid. IL-1 beta and IL-1ra protein secretion was evaluated by ELISA, and expression of the mRNA for the cytokines was examined by means of Northern blot analysis. The HCMV IE1+2 gene products were found to increase expression of the mRNA for both IL-1 beta and IL-1ra; however, only the IL-1ra protein was released in increased amounts. The individual HCMV IE gene products had different effects on expression of the IL-1ra gene; the HCMV IE1 gene product down-regulated expression of the IL-1ra gene, whereas the IE2 gene product up-regulated expression of the IL-1ra gene. Thus, HCMV IE gene products can either up-regulate or down-regulate expression of the IL-1ra gene, depending on which IE genes are expressed in monocytes-macrophages. This study adds to the understanding of how HCMV can alter immune function during both active and latent infection.