Abstract
We studied the effect of two cytokines, basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-) on human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replication in cultured human lung fibroblasts. We show that TGF- increases HCMV production, probably by a transcriptional mechanism, and that bFGF represses HCMV replication in a dose-dependent manner. These actions were antagonistic and the mechanisms involved were independent of the effects of these factors on cell DNA synthesis and proliferation.
† Present address: Department of Microbiology, Centro de Investigacion, Hospital 12 de Octubre, 28041 Madrid, Spain.
‡> Present address: Division of Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street S.W., Rochester, Minnesota 55905, U.S.A.