title: Homozygous L-SIGN (CLEC4M) plays a protective role in SARS coronavirus infection.
abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is caused by infection of a previously undescribed coronavirus (CoV). L-SIGN, encoded by CLEC4M (also known as CD209L), is a SARS-CoV binding receptor that has polymorphism in its extracellular neck region encoded by the tandem repeat domain in exon 4. Our genetic risk association study shows that individuals homozygous for CLEC4M tandem repeats are less susceptible to SARS infection. L-SIGN is expressed in both non-SARS and SARS-CoV-infected lung. Compared with cells heterozygous for L-SIGN, cells homozygous for L-SIGN show higher binding capacity for SARS-CoV, higher proteasome-dependent viral degradation and a lower capacity for trans infection. Thus, homozygosity for L-SIGN plays a protective role during SARS infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hong Kong Jockey Club Clinical Research Center, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
authors.forename: Vera S F
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Kelvin Y K
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Yongxiong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Leo L M
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.forename: Annie N Y
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Bojian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Kwok-Hung
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: Hextan Y S
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Ngan
authors.forename: Xiaoning
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Screaton
authors.forename: Paul K H
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Austyn
authors.forename: Li-Chong
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Shea-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Malik
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peiris
authors.forename: Ui-Soon
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Khoo
authors.forename: Chen-Lung S
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells / Q000821:virology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006720:Homozygote; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000502:physiology; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D020080:Tandem Repeat Sequences; D014709:Vero Cells / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: C433029:CLEC4M protein, human; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex