A monoclonal antibody specific for the cellular receptor for the group B coxsackieviruses

A 50-kilodalton receptor protein (Rp-a) for the group B coxsackieviruses (CB) was isolated in a virus-receptor complex from detergent-solubilized HeLa cells (J. E. Mapoles, D. L. Krah, and R. L. Crowell, J. Virol. 55:560-566, 1985). It was used as an immunogen for preparation of a mouse monoclonal antibody (RmcB) which protected HeLa cells and Buffalo green monkey kidney cells from infection by all six serotypes of CB. RmcB did not protect HeLa cells from infection by poliovirus, echovirus 6, or coxsackievirus A18. This monoclonal antibody differed in receptor epitope specificity from a previously isolated antibody (RmcA) (R. L. Crowell, A. K. Field, W. A. Schleif, W. L. Long, R. J. Colonno, J. E. Mapoles, and E. A. Emini, J. Virol. 57:438-445, 1986) which blocked receptors only for type 1 CB (CB1), CB3, CB5, and echovirus 6. RmcA and RmcB recognized two distinct saturable receptors on HeLa cells, designated HR2 and HR1, respectively. Human rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells have the HR2 receptor for CB3-RD (a variant of CB3), but lack the HR1 receptor for CB3. Therefore, RD cells were resistant to infection by CB3. Although binding of CB3-RD to the HR2 receptor on RD cells can lead to infection, binding of CB3-RD to the HR2 receptor on HeLa cells did not lead to infection. Apparently, both CB3 and CB3-RD use only the HR1 receptor for infection of HeLa cells. Thus, a given virus may use two distinct receptors to bind to cells when only one virus-receptor interaction leads to infection.