%0 Journal Article
%1 Costa2024
%A Costa, B
%A Becker, J
%A Krammer, T
%A Mulenge, F
%A Duran, V
%A Pavlou, A
%A Gern, O L
%A Chu, X
%A Li, Y
%A Cicin-Sain, L
%A Eiz-Vesper, B
%A Messerle, M
%A Dölken, L
%A Saliba, AE
%A Erhard, F
%A Kalinke, U
%D 2024
%J Nat Commun
%K kalinke
%N 1
%P 1745
%R 10.1038/s41467-024-45614-3
%T Human cytomegalovirus exploits STING signaling and counteracts IFN/ISG induction to facilitate infection of dendritic cells
%U https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38409141/
%V 15
%X Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a widespread pathogen that in immunocompromised hosts can cause life-threatening disease. Studying HCMV-exposed monocyte-derived dendritic cells by single-cell RNA sequencing, we observe that most cells are entered by the virus, whereas less than 30\% of them initiate viral gene expression. Increased viral gene expression is associated with activation of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) that usually induces anti-viral interferon responses, and with the induction of several pro- (RHOB, HSP1A1, DNAJB1) and anti-viral (RNF213, TNFSF10, IFI16) genes. Upon progression of infection, interferon-beta but not interferon-lambda transcription is inhibited. Similarly, interferon-stimulated gene expression is initially induced and then shut off, thus further promoting productive infection. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells are composed of 3 subsets, with one being especially susceptible to HCMV. In conclusion, HCMV permissiveness of monocyte-derived dendritic cells depends on complex interactions between virus sensing, regulation of the interferon response, and viral gene expression.