Related Experiment Videos
CD46- and CD150-independent endothelial cell infection with wild-type measles viruses
Oliver Andres1, Karola Obojes1, Kwang Sik Kim2
1Institut für Virologie und Immunbiologie, Versbacher Str. 7, 97078 Würzburg, Germany.
Abstract:
Measles virus (MV) infects endothelial cells of the skin, the brain and other organs during acute or persistent infections. Endothelial cells are supposed to play an important role in virus spread from the blood stream to surrounding tissues. CD46 and CD150 (signalling lymphocytic activation molecule, SLAM) have been described as cellular receptors for certain MV strains. We found that human umbilical vein and brain microvascular endothelial cells (HUVECs and HBMECs) were CD46-positive, but did not express SLAM. Wild-type MV strains, which do not use CD46 as a receptor at the surface of transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells, infected HUVECs and HBMECs to varying extents in a strain-dependent way. This infection was not inhibited by antibodies to CD46. These data suggest the presence of an additional unidentified receptor for MV uptake and spread in human endothelial cells.
Insights
Measles virus infects human endothelial cells, but not via known CD46 or SLAM receptors. This suggests an unidentified receptor facilitates measles virus entry and spread in these critical cells.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Measles virus (MV) infects endothelial cells, crucial for virus dissemination from the bloodstream.
- CD46 and signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM) are known cellular receptors for some MV strains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of endothelial cells in MV infection.
- To identify the specific receptors used by MV to infect human endothelial cells.
Main Methods:
- Assessing CD46 and SLAM expression in human umbilical vein and brain microvascular endothelial cells (HUVECs and HBMECs).
- Infecting HUVECs and HBMECs with wild-type MV strains.
- Evaluating the effect of CD46-blocking antibodies on MV infection.
Main Results:
- HUVECs and HBMECs expressed CD46 but not SLAM.
- Wild-type MV strains infected these endothelial cells in a strain-dependent manner.
- CD46-blocking antibodies did not inhibit MV infection of endothelial cells.
Conclusions:
- Endothelial cells utilize an unidentified receptor for measles virus uptake and spread.
- This finding challenges the current understanding of MV tropism and receptor usage in endothelial cells.