title: Inhibition of the interaction between the SARS-CoV spike protein and its cellular receptor by anti-histo-blood group antibodies.
abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is a highly pathogenic emergent virus which replicates in cells that can express ABH histo-blood group antigens. The heavily glycosylated SARS-CoV spike (S) protein binds to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 which serves as a cellular receptor. Epidemiological analysis of a hospital outbreak in Hong Kong revealed that blood group O was associated with a low risk of infection. In this study, we used a cellular model of adhesion to investigate whether natural antibodies of the ABO system could block the S protein and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 interaction. To this aim, a C-terminally EGFP-tagged S protein was expressed in chinese hamster ovary cells cotransfected with an alpha1,2-fucosyltransferase and an A-transferase in order to coexpress the S glycoprotein ectodomain and the A antigen at the cell surface. We observed that the S protein/angiotensin-converting enzyme 2-dependent adhesion of these cells to an angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 expressing cell line was specifically inhibited by either a monoclonal or human natural anti-A antibodies, indicating that these antibodies may block the interaction between the virus and its receptor, thereby providing protection. In order to more fully appreciate the potential effect of the ABO polymorphism on the epidemiology of SARS, we built a mathematical model of the virus transmission dynamics that takes into account the protective effect of ABO natural antibodies. The model indicated that the ABO polymorphism could contribute to substantially reduce the virus transmission, affecting both the number of infected individuals and the kinetics of the epidemic.
authors.affiliation: French National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM), U892, University of Nantes, 44035 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guillon
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clément
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sébille
authors.forename: Jean-Gérard
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Rivain
authors.forename: Chih-Fong
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ruvoën-Clouet
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Le Pendu
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D016466:CHO Cells; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000276:immunology; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D014709:Vero Cells; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D001323:Autoantibodies; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C578557:spike glycoprotein, SARS-CoV; C578553:spike protein, mouse hepatitis virus