Kinetics of US28 gene expression during active human cytomegalovirus infection in lung-transplant recipients

Targeting viral proteins early during infection may limit exacerbation of human cytomegalovirus infection. The viral chemokine-receptor homologue US28 interferes with leukocyte trafficking and, possibly, viral replication. Because US28 molecules are abundant on the surface of infected cells, this homologue is a potential target for antiviral therapy. To assess the relationship between US28 and disease activity, we measured, by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, the levels of US28 and immediate-early (IE) 1 gene transcripts in the blood of lung-transplant recipients. We found that, during primary and secondary infection, the IE1 and US28 genes have early transcription kinetics and are expressed at similar levels. This may render US28 an attractive target for antiviral therapy

The ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1-like protein in lung cancer cell lines

The UBEIL gene isolated from the chromosome 3p21 region has an extremely reduced level of mRNA in lung cancer. Sequence analysis showed a 45% homology to the human ubiquitin-activating enzyme El at the amino acid level. To further characterize the protein product, we generated UBEIL protein-specific antibodies. Immunoblot analysis revealed a full-length gene product of approximately 112 kDa. Assessment of the level and distribution pattern of the UBEIL protein in normal and tumor tissue using the generated antibodies showed that the UBEIL protein was present in normal lung cells and non-lung cancer cell lines, but was undetectable in all 14 human lung cancer cell lines analyzed. This difference in expression of the UBEIL protein between normal lung tissue and lung tumor-derived cell lines suggests a possible involvement of an El-like protein in the origin and/or progression of lung tumors. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc