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Isolation of a common receptor for Coxsackie B viruses and adenoviruses 2 and 5

J M Bergelson1, J A Cunningham, G Droguett

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|February 28, 1997
PubMed

Insights

Researchers identified a coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) that allows viruses to attach to and infect cells. This discovery is key for understanding viral diseases and improving gene therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Viruses like coxsackievirus and adenovirus rely on specific cell surface receptors for entry.
  • The precise receptors for many viral pathogens, including coxsackie B virus, have not been fully elucidated.
  • Adenovirus infection is known to be dependent on the attachment of its fiber protein to host cell receptors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and characterize the complementary DNA (cDNA) encoding the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR).
  • To determine if CAR functions as a functional receptor for coxsackie B virus and adenovirus.
  • To assess the implications of CAR identification for viral pathogenesis and adenovirus-mediated gene therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation of a complementary DNA (cDNA) clone encoding the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR).
  • Transfection of nonpermissive hamster cells with CAR cDNA.
  • Assessing viral attachment and infection rates in CAR-transfected cells for coxsackie B virus and adenovirus.
  • Evaluating fiber-dependent binding of adenovirus to CAR-transfected cells.
  • Measuring susceptibility to adenovirus-mediated gene transfer in CAR-transfected cells.

Main Results:

  • A complementary DNA (cDNA) clone encoding the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) was successfully isolated.
  • Transfection of hamster cells with CAR cDNA rendered them susceptible to coxsackie B virus attachment and infection.
  • CAR-transfected cells exhibited fiber-dependent binding of adenovirus.
  • A 100-fold increase in susceptibility to adenovirus-mediated gene transfer was observed in CAR-transfected cells.

Conclusions:

  • The coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) acts as a functional receptor for both coxsackie B virus and adenovirus.
  • This finding elucidates the molecular mechanism of entry for two distinct viral pathogens.
  • Identification of CAR has significant implications for understanding viral pathogenesis and advancing adenovirus vector-based gene therapy strategies.

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