Hepatoma cell density promotes claudin-1 and scavenger receptor BI expression and hepatitis C virus internalization.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry occurs via a pH- and clathrin-dependent endocytic pathway and requires a number of cellular factors, including CD81, the tight-junction proteins claudin 1 (CLDN1) and occludin, and scavenger receptor class B member I (SR-BI). HCV tropism is restricted to the liver, where hepatocytes are tightly packed. Here, we demonstrate that SR-BI and CLDN1 expression is modulated in confluent human hepatoma cells, with both receptors being enriched at cell-cell junctions. Cellular contact increased HCV pseudoparticle (HCVpp) and HCV particle (HCVcc) infection and accelerated the internalization of cell-bound HCVcc, suggesting that the cell contact modulation of receptor levels may facilitate the assembly of receptor complexes required for virus internalization. CLDN1 overexpression in subconfluent cells was unable to recapitulate this effect, whereas increased SR-BI expression enhanced HCVpp entry and HCVcc internalization, demonstrating a rate-limiting role for SR-BI in HCV internalization.
Hepatitis C Research Group, Institute for Biomedical Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom.
Anne K
AK
Schwarz
Joe
J
Grove
Ke
K
Hu
Christopher J
CJ
Mee
Peter
P
Balfe
Jane A
JA
McKeating
D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002452:Cell Count; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D062445:Claudin-1; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000502:physiology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D053586:Virus Internalization
D018955:CD36 Antigens; C568108:CLDN1 protein, human; D062445:Claudin-1; D008565:Membrane Proteins