Norwalk virus binds to histo-blood group antigens present on gastroduodenal epithelial cells of secretor individuals.
OBJECTIVE
Norwalk Virus (NV) is a member of the Caliciviridae family, which causes acute epidemic gastroenteritis in humans of all ages and its cellular receptors have not yet been characterized. Another calicivirus, Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus, attaches to H type 2 histo-blood group oligosaccharide present on rabbit epithelial cells. Our aim was to test if, by analogy, recombinant NV-like particles (rNV VLPs) use carbohydrates present on human gastroduodenal epithelial cells as ligands.


METHODS
Attachment of rNV VLPs was tested on tissue sections of the gastroduodenal junction and on saliva from individuals of known ABO, Lewis, and secretor phenotypes. It was also tested on human Caco-2 cells and on animal cell lines transfected with glycosyltransferases complementary DNA (cDNA). Competition experiments were performed with synthetic oligosaccharides and anticarbohydrate antibodies. Internalization was monitored by confocal microscopy.


RESULTS
Attachment of rNV VLPs to surface epithelial cells of the gastroduodenal junction as well as to saliva was detected, yet only from secretor donors. It was abolished by alpha1,2fucosidase treatment, and by competition with the H types 1 and 3 trisaccharides or with anti-H type 1 and anti-H types (3/4) antibodies. Transfection of CHO and TS/A cells with an alpha1,2fucosyltransferase cDNA allowed attachment of VLPs. These transfectants as well as differentiated Caco-2 cells expressing H type 1 structures internalized the bound particles.


CONCLUSIONS
rNV VLPs use H type 1 and/or H types (3/4) as ligands on gastroduodenal epithelial cells of secretor individuals.
Marionneau
Severine
S
INSERM U419, Institut de Biologie, Nantes, France.
Ruvoën
Nathalie
N
Le Moullac-Vaidye
Beatrice
B
Clement
Monique
M
Cailleau-Thomas
Anne
A
Ruiz-Palacois
Guillermo
G
Huang
Pengwei
P
Jiang
Xi
X
Le Pendu
Jacques
J
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000818:Animals; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000502:physiology*; D016466:CHO Cells; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000502:physiology; D006224:Cricetinae; D004386:Duodenum / Q000276:immunology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000502:physiology*; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens / Q000502:physiology; D008024:Ligands; D009663:Norwalk virus / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D051381:Rats; D012463:Saliva / Q000502:physiology; D013270:Stomach / Q000276:immunology*; D014771:Virion / Q000502:physiology
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D002241:Carbohydrates; D007519:Isoantigens; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens; D008024:Ligands