Analysis of genetic heterogeneity in the HCAR adenovirus-binding Ig1 domain in a Caucasian Flemish population.
BACKGROUND
Polymorphisms in the gene that encodes the human cellular receptor for group B coxsackieviruses and adenoviruses (HCAR) could be responsible for differences in susceptibility to infections with these pathogens. Moreover, adenovirus subgroup C-mediated gene therapy could be influenced by mutations in the coding exons for the aminoterminal immunoglobulin-like 1 (Ig1) domain, which is the essential component for adenovirus fiber knob binding.


RESULTS
Using two primersets in the adjacent intron sequences, HCAR exons 2 and 3, which comprise the full-length Ig1 domain, were amplified by polymerase chain reactions in 108 unselected and unrelated healthy Belgian volunteers. After nucleotide sequencing, no polymorphisms could be demonstrated in the adenovirus-binding Ig1 exons 2 and 3 of the HCAR gene.


CONCLUSIONS
The adenovirus-binding Ig1 domain seems to be a highly conserved region in the Caucasian population which is a reassuring finding regarding adenovector-based gene therapy.
Thoelen
Inge
I
Laboratory of Clinical & Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, Belgium.
Duson
Griet
G
Wollants
Elke
E
Van Ranst
Marc
M
D001483:Base Sequence; D001530:Belgium; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D062727:Coxsackie and Adenovirus Receptor-Like Membrane Protein; D005091:Exons; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000737:chemistry*; D007438:Introns; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*
C568771:CLMP protein, human; D062727:Coxsackie and Adenovirus Receptor-Like Membrane Protein; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011991:Receptors, Virus