title: Recent topics related to human herpesvirus 6 cell tropism.
abstract: Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a T lymphotropic herpes virus that is categorized into two variants, A (HHV-6A) and B (HHV-6B), on the basis of distinct genetic, immunological and biological characteristics. HHV-6 uses human CD46 as a cellular receptor. Without viral replication, HHV-6A induces cell-cell fusion between cells expressing human CD46. Some HHV-6B strains can also induce CD46-mediated cell-cell fusion. A multiple glycoprotein complex composed of glycoprotein (g) H-gL complexed with gQ1 and gQ2 has been identified, and found to be a viral ligand for the human CD46 receptor. Moreover, a novel complex consisting of gH/gL/gO, which does not associate with CD46, has also been identified. The evidence suggests that an additional receptor for HHV-6B or both variants may play a role in determining the cell tropism of this virus. Finally, cholesterol in the HHV-6 envelope and plasma membrane of the host cells plays an important role in HHV-6 entry, although how this function relates to cell-envelope fusion remains to be elucidated.
authors.affiliation: Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Japan. ymori@med.kobe-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yasuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mori
mesh_terms: D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D051916:Membrane Cofactor Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000378:metabolism; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D053585:Virus Attachment; D053586:Virus Internalization
chemical_list: D051916:Membrane Cofactor Protein; D011991:Receptors, Virus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D002784:Cholesterol