Skip to main content
Figure 4 | Virology Journal

Figure 4

From: Human cytomegalovirus infection inhibits CXCL12- mediated migration and invasion of human extravillous cytotrophoblasts

Figure 4

HCMV infection blocks the ability of SGHPL-4 cells to migrate or invade toward CXCL12. Serum-starved SGHPL-4 cells were mock-infected or infected with Towne HCMV (MOI of 1) for 24 hours. Mock-infected cells were also pretreated with a neutralizing antibody against CXCR4 (12G5) prior to the assay. The cells were loaded into Fluoroblok inserts with 8 μm pores and chemoattractants (CXCL12 or EGF) were loaded into the lower chamber. Migration was allowed to proceed for 6 hours, whereas invasion assays were incubated for 24 hours, at which point they were labeled with Calcein AM and 10X images were acquired. HCMV infection significantly impaired migration (A) and invasion (B) toward CXCL12 at both 50 ng/ml and 10 ng/ml (p<0.0001). Although antibody-mediated (12G5) neutralization of CXCR4 significantly decreased migration (p<0.0001) and invasion (p<0.0001) toward CXCL12, its effect was not as pronounced as that seen following infection with HCMV. (***, p<0.001).

Back to article page