Human cytomegalovirus enhances chemokine production by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated lamina propria macrophages.

To elucidate the role of mucosal macrophages in intestinal human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) disease, primary lamina propria macrophages (LPM) were isolated from normal human jejunum, infected with HCMV, and studied for their cytokine responses. HCMV infection of LPM was confirmed by the presence of HCMV IE72 (UL123), pp65 (UL83), and glycoprotein B (UL55) proteins, which were detected by immunofluorescence, beginning at postinfection (pi) day 3, and were sustained through pi day 12 in 0.1%-0.