title: Broad target cell selectivity of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus glycoprotein-mediated cell fusion and virion entry.
abstract: The molecular mechanism of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV, human herpesvirus 8) entry is poorly understood. We tested a broad variety of cell types of diverse species and tissue origin for their ability to function as targets in a quantitative reporter gene assay for KSHV-glycoprotein-mediated cell fusion. Several human, non-human primate, and rabbit cell lines were efficient targets, whereas rodent and all human lymphoblastoid cell lines were weak targets. Parallel findings were obtained with a virion entry assay using a recombinant KSHV encoding a reporter gene. No correlation was observed between target cell activity and surface expression of alpha3beta1 integrin, a proposed KSHV receptor. We hypothesize that target cell permissiveness in both the cell fusion and virion entry assays reflects the presence of a putative KSHV fusion-entry receptor.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Building 4, Room 237, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Johnan A R
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kaleeba
authors.forename: Edward A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000882:Haplorhini; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D039201:Integrin alpha3beta1 / Q000032:analysis; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D011817:Rabbits; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000032:analysis; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D039201:Integrin alpha3beta1; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011991:Receptors, Virus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D001616:beta-Galactosidase