Human nerve cells are susceptible to XMRV virus infection

Susceptibility of human primary neuronal cells to Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-related (XMRV) virus infection.

Virology Journal 2011, 8:443 doi:10.1186/1743-422X-8-443

Corresponding Author: Dr. Indira Hewlett: Veerasamy Ravichandran (veerasamy.ravichandran@fda.hhs.gov)
Eugen O Major (Majorg@ninds.nih.gov)
Carol Ibe (ibec@mail.nih.gov)
Maria Chiara Monaco (monaco@ninds.nih.gov)
Mohan Kumar Haleyur Girisetty (mohan.haleyurgirisetty@fda.hhs.gov)
Indira K Hewlett (indira.hewlett@fda.hhs.gov)

Publication date 20 September 2011

1Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted
Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and
Research, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; 2Laboratory of
Molecular Medicine and Neuroscience, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892., USA

ABSTRACT
Background: Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-related (XMRV) virus is a recently
identified mouse gammaretrovirus that has the ability to infect certain human cells. In this
study, we investigated the susceptibility of primary neuronal cell types to infection with
XMRV.

Findings: We observed that the human primary progenitors, progenitor-derived neurons,
and progenitor-derived astrocytes supported XMRV multiplication. Interestingly, both
progenitors and progenitor-derived neurons were more susceptible compared with
progenitor-derived astrocytes. In addition, XMRV-infected Jurkat cells were able to
transmit infection to neuronal cells.

Conclusions: These data suggest that neuronal cells are susceptible for XMRV infection.

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