Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection Increases Aortic Expression of Proatherosclerotic Genes

Abstract

Background— The possible etiologic role of infection in cardiovascular disease is still debated. Having previously demonstrated that murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection of apolipoprotein (apo) E−/− mice increases atherosclerotic lesion size, we determined if MCMV infection produces proatherogenic changes in aortic gene expression. Additionally, in cholesterol-fed C57BL/6J mice, we examined the effects of MCMV infection on aortic lesion area. Methods and Results— C57BL/6J apoE−/− and wild-type C57BL/6J mice were infected with MCMV. At various time points, aortas were collected and pooled. Total RNA was extracted and hybridized to Affymetrix murine chips or analyzed for specific gene expression using TaqMan reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. Data from infected and uninfected mice were compared. A separate group of cholesterol-fed C57BL/6J mice were infected with MCMV, and lesion area in the aortic sinus was assessed using oil red O staining. Acute MCMV infection altered aortic expression o...