Latency and activation of cytomegalovirus in man and in mice

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Abstract
Because of the high prevalence of anti-CMV [cytomegalovirus] antibodies among adult populations, the existence of persistent CMV infections was suspected for many years. The chronic form was easily diagnosed, the infection being characterized by a prolonged excretion of the virus in the urine. The presence of the latent form was more difficult to establish. Clinical data concerning groups of patients who were undergoing various treatments (renal transplantation, bone-marrow replacement, blood transfusions) or who were pregnant, suggested that the lymphocyte is the carrier cell, from which the virus may be activated in the course of lymphocyte reactions associated with antihistocompatibility antigen-immune responses. In mice, it was more directly demonstrated that latent CMV infection can be activated by allogenic reactions in vivo an in vitro. More recently, CMV receptors were present on the surface of a small number of B[bone marrow-derived]-lymphocytes, probably representing the antigen-binding cells. Also, CMV can alter the T[thymus-derived]-lymphocytes in man and the B-lymphocytes in mice, by a mechanism which was not yet elucidated. Further studies are needed to elucidate this and other mechanisms of CMV activation, and to evaluate the exact implications of CMV activation in man.