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Induction of the measles virus receptor SLAM (CD150) on monocytes

Hiroko Minagawa1, Kotaro Tanaka1, Nobuyuki Ono1

  • 1Department of Virology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan1.

Insights

Measles virus (MV) can infect monocytes, which typically do not express the signalling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM). This study shows that monocytes can be induced to express SLAM, enabling MV infection.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Wild-type measles virus (MV) uses signalling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM; CD150) as a receptor.
  • Edmonston strain and vaccine strains of MV utilize both SLAM and CD46.
  • Lymphocytes and dendritic cells express SLAM upon activation, but monocytes are generally SLAM-negative.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate SLAM expression on monocytes under various conditions.
  • To determine if SLAM acts as a receptor for MV on monocytes.

Main Methods:

  • Monocyte isolation from peripheral blood.
  • Incubation of monocytes with stimuli (phytohaemagglutinin, lipopolysaccharide, MV).
  • Assessment of SLAM expression via flow cytometry.
  • MV infection assays and blocking with anti-SLAM antibodies.

Main Results:

  • Freshly isolated monocytes do not express SLAM on their surface.
  • Monocyte SLAM expression is induced upon incubation with phytohaemagglutinin, bacterial lipopolysaccharide, or MV.
  • Anti-SLAM antibodies effectively blocked wild-type MV infection of activated monocytes.

Conclusions:

  • Signalling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) is readily induced on monocytes.
  • SLAM functions as a cellular receptor for measles virus (MV) on monocytes.

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