MAB8126 Sigma-AldrichAnti-Cytomegalovirus Antibody, late Antigen, clone 2D4.2

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has been indicated being a significant oncomodulator. Recent reports have suggested that an antiviral treatment alters the outcome of a glioblastoma. We analysed the performance of commercial HCMV-antibodies applying the immunohistochemical (IHC) methods on brain sample obtained from a subject with a verified HCMV infection, on samples obtained from 14 control subjects, and on a tissue microarray block containing cores of various brain tumours. Based on these trials, we selected the best performing antibody and analysed a cohort of 417 extra- and intra-axial brain tumours such as gliomas, medulloblastomas, primary diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, and meningiomas. HCMV protein pp65 immunoreactivity was observed in all types of tumours analysed, and the IHC expression did not depend on the patient's age, gender, tumour type, or grade. The labelling pattern observed in the tumours differed from the labelling pattern observed in the tissue with an active HCMV infection. The HCMV protein was expressed in up to 90% of all the tumours investigated. Our results are in accordance with previous reports regarding the HCMV protein expression in glioblastomas and medulloblastomas. In addition, the HCMV protein expression was seen in primary brain lymphomas, low-grade gliomas, and in meningiomas. Our results indicate that the HCMV protein pp65 expression is common in intra- and extra-axial brain tumours. Thus, the assessment of the HCMV expression in tumours of various origins and pathologically altered tissue in conditions such as inflammation, infection, and even degeneration should certainly be facilitated.

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is transmitted by transfusion of infected blood products and can cause serious diseases in specific risk groups. CMV can be present in infected blood as cell-free virus (CFV), cell-associated actively replicating virus (CAV), and cell-associated latent virus (LV). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In vitro models for all three infectious forms of CMV and virus detection assays based on both tissue culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were developed. The utility of the CMV model systems and assays were tested by validation studies of a novel pathogen inactivation agent, PEN110, for red blood cells. RESULTS: Reproducible high titers of CFV and CAV were obtained by optimized tissue culture techniques for CMV-infected MRC-5 cells. An LV model was obtained with CMV-infected THP-1 cells and reactivation of virus replication by phorbol ester treatment. The model systems showed that PEN110 treatment is effective against all three forms of CMV as measured by tissue culture-based infectivity assays and a long-range PCR method specific for detection of damage to CMV viral DNA. CONCLUSION: This study describes model systems to the relevant forms of CMV in blood and detection assays that can be used to evaluate the efficacy of viral inactivation agents.