PhD Scientific Days 2024

Poster Session A - Molecular Medicine 1.

Cellular Senescence as the Basis for HCMV-related Pathogenesis

Text of the abstract

Introduction

Congenital cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections is a leading cause of birth defects and neurological damage in newborns. It is also known that timely and controlled induction of senescence play beneficial functions during development and that misregulation of senescence program can be associated to birth defects. Senescence is a cellular state triggered by different types of stresses and certain physiological processes, characterized by a prolonged arrest of the cell cycle with secretory features, accumulation of macromolecular damage, and alteration of metabolism. One of the stresses that can lead to the accumulation of senescent cells is the virus infection. Whether HCMV infection induces senescence is still unclear.

Aims

The final aim is to determine if the induction of senescence could be one of the pathogenicity mechanisms of HCMV. The intermediate objectives are to first evaluate whether HCMV infection induces senescence and whether this senescence is part of the cellular response against the virus.

Method

Different cell lines were infected with HCMV and tested at different times post infection. To determine the induction of senescence different assays were used: betal galactosidase stainaing, QRTPCR, western blot, inmunoflorescence and cytometry.

Results

HCMV infection induces senescence in primary and immortalized human fibroblasts. Senescence induction represent a cellular mechanism to control HCMV infection.

Conclusion

HCMV infection induces senescence as an antiviral response.

Funding

PhD student grant from "Fundación del Instituto de Investigación de Santiago de Compostela"; Proteínas tipo ubiquitina en la interacción virus-célula. PID2021-126510NB-100, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. PI: Carmen Rivas.