Cytomegalovirus Infection Accelerates the Process of Chronic Rejection in Rat Liver Transplantation

Objective. Analysis of the pathogenesis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection for rat chronic liver rejection. Methods. Based on animal models that we previously developed, we divided control and a CMV infection group to analyze survival, histopathology and rejection activity. The level and mRNA expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were measured in peripheral blood serum and liver tissue. Results. Obliterative arteriopathy and fibrosis was significantly greater in the CMV infection versus the control group (P < .05). PDGF mRNA expression in rat liver and in peripheral blood were significantly higher in the CMV infection versus the control group (P < .05). bFGF mRNA expression in the CMV infection group was also significantly higher than among the controls (P < .05). Conclusions. CMV infection aggravated foam cell obliterative arteriopathy and liver fibrosis in chronic liver rejection, processes that accelerate the immune response, which may correlate with early high PDGF and bFGF expression.