Objective To investigate the expressing profile of cell cycle related genes induced by
human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and to
determine the interfering effects of allitridin on the expression of these genes in drug-treated infectious cells. Methods The expression of 239 gene mRNAs related cell cycle was detected by using gene chip assay in normal or infected (MOI=2.5) HEL (human embryonic lung fibroblost) cells treated with allitridin at 72?h after drug treatment, and infected and normal HEL cells as controls. Results There were 24 genes that differentially expressed in infected cells (10.04%). Nine genes were up-regulated and 15 ones were down-regulated. After drug treatment, the
differential expression of 11 genes remained, but the down-regulation of another 11 genes and the up-regulation of other two genes in infected cells disappeared. Moreover, allitridin induced 2 genes differentially expressing in both infected cells and normal cells, but only 3 genes in normal cells. Altogether, allitridin corrected differential expressing of 13 genes induced by HCMV. Conclusions Significantly differential expression of some cell cycle related genes in infected cells could be the mechanism for the cell cycle dysregulation caused by HCMV infection. Allitridin, eliminated the differential expression of 13 genes induced by HCMV.