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Human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein H/glycoprotein L complex modulates fusion-from-without

R S Milne1, D A Paterson, J C Booth

  • 1Department of Medical Microbiology, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.

The Journal of General Virology
|May 6, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) glycoprotein H/glycoprotein L (gH/gL) complexes are essential for viral fusion. Surface-expressed gH/gL enhances HCMV-induced cell-to-cell fusion, but is not intrinsically fusogenic.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Herpesvirus fusion relies on glycoprotein H/glycoprotein L (gH/gL) complexes.
  • Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against gH inhibit human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) fusion.
  • The fusogenic properties of HCMV gH/gL require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of HCMV gH/gL in cell fusion.
  • To determine if surface-expressed gH/gL is intrinsically fusogenic.
  • To assess the contribution of cell surface gH/gL to HCMV-mediated fusion.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against HCMV gH.
  • Employed defective recombinant adenovirus vectors for gH/gL expression.
  • Assessed fusion-from-without in human embryonic fibroblasts and U373 astrocytoma cells.
  • Investigated cell-to-cell fusion upon HCMV superinfection of cells expressing gH/gL.

Main Results:

  • Neutralizing gH-specific MAb inhibited HCMV-induced fusion-from-without.
  • No fusion was observed in cells expressing gH/gL via adenovirus vectors alone.
  • Cells expressing gH/gL showed enhanced cell-to-cell fusion when superinfected with HCMV.
  • Surface-expressed gH/gL is not intrinsically fusogenic but enhances fusion initiated by other viral components.

Conclusions:

  • HCMV gH/gL complexes are critical for viral entry and cell fusion.
  • Cell surface-expressed gH/gL potentiates HCMV-mediated membrane fusion.
  • gH/gL acts as an enhancer of fusion rather than an initiator under these experimental conditions.

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