Human parvovirus B19 experimental infection in human fibroblasts and endothelial cells cultures

With the aim to detect what kind of cells; in addition to erythroid progenitors, could be involved in the pathogenesis of B 19 infection in some connective tissue diseases, primary Cultures of human fibroblasts (HF) and endothelial cells (HUVEC) were exposed to a B 19 positive serum (350 genome copies/cell). The presence of NS1 and VP1 mRNA, in both HF and HUVEC Cultures 1, 2 and 6 days after the exposure, indicated infection by B 19 virus. However, no significant increase of B 19 DNA level in the infected H[F and HUVEC cultures was detectable through the entire incubation period of 6 days. It is possible that HF and HUVEC are not permissive for B 19 virus replication or, alternatively, that few cells only get infected by B 19 virus. HF and HUVEC stimulation with different growth factors, or cytokines could be required for a B 19 productive infection to occur.