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The measles virus hemagglutinin downregulates the cellular receptor SLAM (CD150)

K Tanaka1, H Minagawa, M F Xie

  • 1Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.

Archives of Virology
|February 22, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Measles virus infection downregulates Signaling Lymphocyte Activation Molecule (SLAM) on cell surfaces. The measles virus hemagglutinin protein is responsible for this SLAM downregulation, impacting infected and neighboring cells.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Signaling Lymphocyte Activation Molecule (SLAM) is a key cellular receptor utilized by the measles virus for entry and infection.
  • Understanding the mechanisms of measles virus pathogenesis is crucial for developing effective antiviral strategies and vaccines.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of specific measles virus proteins in the downregulation of SLAM on infected cell surfaces.
  • To determine if measles virus hemagglutinin or fusion protein is responsible for SLAM modulation.

Main Methods:

  • Cells were infected with Edmonston or wild-type KA strains of measles virus.
  • Transfection experiments were performed using expression plasmids encoding measles virus hemagglutinin and fusion proteins.
  • SLAM surface expression was analyzed on infected and transfected cells, as well as through co-cultivation assays.

Main Results:

  • Measles virus infection led to the downregulation of SLAM from the surface of infected cells.
  • Transfection with hemagglutinin, but not fusion protein, expression plasmids induced SLAM downregulation.
  • SLAM downregulation was observed in cells expressing the hemagglutinin protein and in SLAM-expressing cells co-cultured with hemagglutinin-expressing cells.

Conclusions:

  • The hemagglutinin protein of measles virus is sufficient to induce SLAM downregulation.
  • Measles virus hemagglutinin can downregulate SLAM on both infected cells and neighboring cells through cell-to-cell contact.

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