Human cytomegalovirus infection induces mRNA expression and secretion of plasminogen inhibitor type-1 in endothelial cells

The aim of the study was to investigate whether infection of endothelial cells with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) perturbs expression and production of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1). mRNA expression of PAI-1 was investigated by isolating total RNA from HCMV-infected and control cells, followed by Northern blotting and probing with ³²P-labelled PAI-1 probe. Sandwich ELISA was used to investigate PAI-1 production. HCMV induced the expression of PAI-1-mRNA at 2–5 days postinfection (maximum expression was at 3 days postinfection which was 40% higher than control). HCMV also induced secretion of PAI-1 at 2–5 days postinfection. These results indicate that infection of endothelial cells with HCMV disturbs PAI-1 expression and production in these cells. J. Med. Virol. 55:268–271, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.