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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Use of Viral Entry Assays and Molecular Docking Analysis for the Identification of Antiviral Candidates against Coxsackievirus A16
Published on: July 15, 2019
CVB infection and mechanisms of viral cardiomyopathy
1Department of Medicine and Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0613K, USA. kknowlton@ucsd.edu
Insights
Coxsackievirus infection causes viral myocarditis by affecting cardiac myocytes. The interaction between the virus and heart cells, including viral protein effects and innate immunity, influences disease development.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Coxsackievirus is a known cause of viral myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy.
- Focus has been on adaptive immunity, but virus-myocyte interactions are crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the role of coxsackievirus-myocyte interactions in viral myocarditis pathogenesis.
- To explore the impact of viral proteins and host innate immunity on cardiac myocytes.
Main Methods:
- Investigated coxsackievirus tropism for cardiac myocytes via the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR).
- Examined the effect of viral protease 2A on host cell proteins like dystrophin.
- Assessed the role of Suppressors of Cytokine Signaling (SOCS) in innate immune defense.
Main Results:
- Coxsackievirus exhibits cardiac tropism due to high CAR levels on myocytes.
- Viral protease 2A cleaves dystrophin, potentially aiding viral release.
- Cardiac myocytes possess innate immune defenses, including SOCS, inhibiting viral replication.
Conclusions:
- The interaction between coxsackievirus and cardiac myocytes is central to viral myocarditis.
- Viral proteins and host innate immune responses significantly impact disease susceptibility and progression.
Abstract:
Coxsackievirus infection has been demonstrated to be a cause of acute and fulminant viral myocarditis and has been associated with dilated cardiomyopathy. While considerable attention has focused on the role of the cellular and humoral, antigen-specific immune system in viral myocarditis, the interaction between the virus and the infected host myocyte is also important. Coxsackievirus has a relative tropism for the heart that is in part mediated by relatively high levels of the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) on the cardiac myocyte. Once within the myocyte, coxsackievirus produces proteases, such as protease 2A, that have an important role in viral replication, but can also affect host cell proteins such as dystrophin. Cleavage of dystrophin may have a role in release of the virus from the myocyte since viral infection is increased in the absence of dystrophin. In addition to the direct effect of viral proteins on cardiac myocytes, there is now evidence that the cardiac myocyte has a potent innate immune defense against coxsackieviral infection. Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) can inhibit an interferon-independent mechanism within the cardiac myocyte. In summary, the interaction between coxsackievirus and the infected myocyte has a significant role in the pathogenesis of viral myocarditis and the susceptibility to viral infection.
Related Concept Videos
Cytomegalovirus Disease
Cardiomyopathy I: Introduction and Classification
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Myocarditis I: Introduction

