IMPACT OF AMD-3100 ON CELL MORPHOLOGY AND MOVEMENT

Human cytomegalovirus is a widespread pathogen that infects the majority of the population but causes little disease except in immune-compromised individuals. HCMV encodes a viral cytokine, cmvIL-10, that engages the host cellular IL-10 receptor (IL-10R), inducing downstream signaling. Binding of cmvIL-10 to IL-10R also impacts signaling from other host receptors, especially the chemokine receptor CXCR4 which is essential for development and immune responses. We used a chemical inhibitor of CXCR4, AMD-3100, to study effects of cmvIL-10 on CXCR4 signaling. Human ARPE-19 cells growing in a monolayer were “scratched” to create a wound, then movement of cells filling in the wound was observed using the Incucyte Live-Cell Imaging System. The results show that AMD-3100 impairs cmvIL-10-induced cell movement into the wound, and that the treated cells have a distinct morphology compared to control cells. Further investigation is needed to determine whether AMD-3100 also impairs signaling from the IL-10R during virus infection. (Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Juliet Spencer)