Integrin-alphavbeta6, a putative receptor for foot-and-mouth disease virus, is constitutively expressed in ruminant airways.
Evolved functions of integrin-alpha(v)beta(6) include roles in epithelial cell-extracellular matrix protein interactions and in the binding and activation of latent TGF-beta(1). Integrin-alpha(v)beta(6) is also exploited as a receptor by foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) and may play a significant role in its transmission and pathogenesis. The ovine beta(6) integrin subunit was cloned and sequenced (EMBL accession no. AJ439062). Screening of normal ovine tissues by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry confirmed that integrin-alphavbeta6 is restricted to sheep epithelial cells. Integrin-alphavbeta6 expression was detected in epithelia of the airways, oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, kidney, sweat glands, hair follicle sheaths, and the epidermis of pedal coronary band (PB) but not of normal skin. Consistent with FMDV tropism, integrin-alphavbeta6 was detected within the basal layers of the stratified squamous epithelium of the oral mucosa and PB. In addition, integrin-alphavbeta6 appears to be constitutively expressed in the normal airways of both cattle and sheep. The latter finding suggests that ruminant airway epithelium presents a highly accessible target for initiation of infection with FMDV by inhalation.
Brown
Jeremy K
JK
Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK. Jeremy.Brown2@ed.ac.uk
McAleese
Sybil M
SM
Thornton
Elisabeth M
EM
Pate
Judith A
JA
Schock
Alexandra
A
Macrae
Alistair I
AI
Scott
Philip R
PR
Miller
Hugh R P
HR
Collie
David D S
DD
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D002417:Cattle; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D019281:Dimerization; D005260:Female; D029544:Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016023:Integrins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012756:Sheep
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D016023:Integrins; D011991:Receptors, Virus; C073878:integrin alphavbeta6