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Alpha4beta1 integrin acts as a cell receptor for murine polyomavirus at the postattachment level
Maddalena Caruso1, Laura Belloni, Olga Sthandier
1Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Cellulari ed Ematologia, Sezione di Genetica Molecolare, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Journal of Virology
|March 14, 2003
Summary
Murine polyomavirus (Py) uses integrins, specifically alpha4, as post-attachment receptors for cell entry. Blocking alpha4 integrin reduces viral infectivity, highlighting its role in Py permissivity.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Murine polyomavirus (Py) initially binds to sialic acids on host cells.
- The specific cellular receptors for Py post-attachment entry remain unidentified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential cellular receptors involved in murine polyomavirus (Py) infection.
- To identify the role of integrins in Py entry into host cells.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Py capsid protein sequences for integrin ligand motifs.
- Assessing Py A2 strain infectivity in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts using integrin ligands and antibodies.
- Evaluating viral infectivity in alpha4-deficient BALB/c 3T3 cells with and without alpha4 subunit expression.
Main Results:
- Integrin ligand motifs (LDV, DLXXL, DGE) were identified in Py VP1 and VP2 proteins.
- Infectivity of Py A2 was reduced by natural integrin ligands and antibodies against alpha4 and beta1 integrins.
- Alpha4 integrin expression enhanced Py infectivity in BALB/c 3T3 cells, and blocking antibodies inhibited this effect without impacting initial virus binding.
Conclusions:
- Alpha4 integrin expression enhances permissivity to murine polyomavirus (Py).
- Alpha4 integrin likely functions as a post-attachment receptor for Py entry into host cells.