Figure 1.

HCMV promotes GBM pathogenesis. HCMV utilizes multiple mechanisms to promote oncogenesis and subvert the host anti-tumor immune function. HCMV envelope glycoprotein B (gB) attaches to and activates PDGFRα signaling. HCMV gene products IE1 and US28 drive multiple cellular pathways important in gliomagenesis such as PI3-K/AKT, pSTAT3, and GSK3-β. The STAT3 pathway is a master regulator of glioma proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, invasion and tumor stem cell maintenance. Other HCMV gene products, and the cmvIL-10 cytokine, lead to further expression of host factors like IL-10 and TGFβ which subvert host anti-tumor immune responses.