FIG. 2.

Enhanced replication of HCMV in PML-kd as well as hDaxx-kd cells. Depletion of PML or hDaxx from primary human fibroblasts facilitates the initiation of HCMV gene expression, thus leading to a higher number of infected cells. (A) Quantification of the number of plaques by standard plaque assay 7 days postinfection of retrovirally transduced HFFs (vector, siC, siPML2, and siDaxx1) with 100 IEU of HCMV AD169. (B and C) Enhancement of HCMV IE gene expression in the absence of PML or hDaxx. In panel B, retrovirally transduced HFFs as indicated were infected with 50 IEU/well of HCMV AD169. Cells were fixed at 24 hpi followed by determination of the number of IE1-expressing fibroblasts via indirect immunofluorescence. Panel C shows Western blot analysis of IE1 gene expression 8 h after infection of PML- and hDaxx-negative cells and control fibroblasts with HCMV AD169 (MOI of 0.01).