SARS-CoV replicates in primary human alveolar type II cell cultures but not in type I-like cells.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a disease characterized by diffuse alveolar damage. We isolated human alveolar type II cells and maintained them in a highly differentiated state. Type II cell cultures supported SARS-CoV replication as evidenced by RT-PCR detection of viral subgenomic RNA and an increase in virus titer. Virus titers were maximal by 24 h and peaked at approximately 10(5) pfu/mL. Two cell types within the cultures were infected. One cell type was type II cells, which were positive for SP-A, SP-C, cytokeratin, a type II cell-specific monoclonal antibody, and Ep-CAM. The other cell type was composed of spindle-shaped cells that were positive for vimentin and collagen III and likely fibroblasts. Viral replication was not detected in type I-like cells or macrophages. Hence, differentiated adult human alveolar type II cells were infectible but alveolar type I-like cells and alveolar macrophages did not support productive infection.
Mossel
Eric C
EC
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA. Eric_Mossel@merck.com
Wang
Jieru
J
Jeffers
Scott
S
Edeen
Karen E
KE
Wang
Shuanglin
S
Cosgrove
Gregory P
GP
Funk
C Joel
CJ
Manzer
Rizwan
R
Miura
Tanya A
TA
Pearson
Leonard D
LD
Holmes
Kathryn V
KV
Mason
Robert J
RJ
D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D004848:Epithelium / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000166:cytology* / Q000821:virology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014773:Virology / Q000379:methods; D014779:Virus Replication
D012367:RNA, Viral