The Viral G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Homologs M33 and US28 Promote Cardiac Dysfunction during Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection

ABSTRACT: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous pathogen that infects the majority of the world population and causes lifelong latent infection. HCMV has been shown to exacerbate cardiovascular diseases, including myocarditis, vascular sclerosis, and transplant vasculopathy. Recently, we have shown that murine CMV (MCMV) recapitulates the cardiovascular dysfunction observed in patients with HCMV-induced myocarditis. To understand the viral mechanisms involved in CMV-induced heart dysfunction, we further characterized cardiac function in response to MCMV and examined virally encoded G-protein-coupled receptor homologs (vGPCRs) US28 and M33 as potential factors that promote infection in the heart. We hypothesized that the CMV-encoded vGPCRs could exacerbate cardiovascular damage and dysfunction

SUBMITTER: Bonavita C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10054303 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature