Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a widespread pathogen that causes lifelong latent infection in the majority of the world population. HCMV is associated with increased incidence and severity of many cardiovascular diseases including myocarditis, atherosclerosis, and transplant vasculopathy. Due to the species-restricted nature of cytomegalovirus infection, murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) is a useful model that recapitulates many of the features of HCMV infection of the cardiovascular system. While in vivo MCMV studies are able to answer many questions regarding pathogenesis of infection, in vitro experiments using cell lines are useful tools to further understand the potential underlying mechanisms. In this study, we characterize MCMV infection of the murine aortic smooth muscle cell line (MOVAS). Our findings demonstrate that MOVAS cells are permissive for MCMV infection, form plaques under carboxymethyl cellulose overlay, and produce progeny virus similar to NIH 3T3 murine embryonic fibroblasts. In addition, MCMV infection induces calcification in MOVAS cells similar to that seen in the epicardium of MCMV-infected hearts. We conclude that MOVAS cells are a useful in vitro tool for studying CMV-mediated cardiac calcification.

人类巨细胞病毒 (HCMV) 是一种广泛传播的病原体，可导致世界大多数人口终生潜伏感染。HCMV 与许多心血管疾病的发病率和严重程度增加有关，包括心肌炎、动脉粥样硬化和移植血管病。由于巨细胞病毒感染的物种限制性质，鼠巨细胞病毒 (MCMV) 是一个有用的模型，它概括了心血管系统 HCMV 感染的许多特征。虽然体内MCMV 研究能够回答有关感染发病机制的许多问题，但体外研究使用细胞系的实验是进一步了解潜在潜在机制的有用工具。在这项研究中，我们描述了小鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞系 (MOVAS) 的 MCMV 感染。我们的研究结果表明，MOVAS 细胞允许 MCMV 感染，在羧甲基纤维素覆盖下形成斑块，并产生类似于 NIH 3T3 鼠胚胎成纤维细胞的后代病毒。此外，MCMV 感染在 MOVAS 细胞中诱导钙化，类似于在 MCMV 感染心脏的心外膜中看到的钙化。我们得出结论，MOVAS 细胞是研究 CMV 介导的心脏钙化的有用体外工具。