Disorders of placental villus vascular remodeling induced by human cytomegalovirus infection

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K09709
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Embryonic/Neonatal medicine
• Research Institution: Hamamatsu University School of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Kosugi Isao 浜松医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (10252173)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: サイトメガロウイルス / 母子感染 / 胎盤

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading viral cause of birth defects by congenital infection. Here we investigated HCMV infection of the placenta during the late phase of the infection. HCMV antigen-positive cells were exclusively found in the villus stroma but very rarely in the trophoblast. Most of HCMV-infected cells in the villus stroma were endothelial cells, pericytes and myofibroblasts. The number of viral antigen-positive cells closely correlated with the amount of viral DNA in the sections, suggesting that villus stromal cells, especially capillary endothelial cells and pericytes, are major sites for HCMV replication. In HCMV-infected villi, the disappearance of endothelial cells correlated with the increase in the number of HCMV-infected myofibroblasts. These data indicate that infectious damages of villus capillary vessels cause the fibrosis and the failure of vascular remodeling, resulting in the disturbances of placental functions and the fetal developmental disorders.

Free Research Field

ウイルス感染病理学、人体病理学