Hepatitis C virus glycoproteins interact with DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR

S Pöhlmann, J Zhang, F Baribaud, Z Chen… - Journal of …, 2003 - Am Soc Microbiol
S Pöhlmann, J Zhang, F Baribaud, Z Chen, GJ Leslie, G Lin, A Granelli-Piperno, RW Doms
Journal of virology, 2003Am Soc Microbiol
ABSTRACT DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR are two closely related membrane-associated C-type
lectins that bind human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope glycoprotein with high
affinity. Binding of HIV to cells expressing DC-SIGN or DC-SIGNR can enhance the
efficiency of infection of cells coexpressing the specific HIV receptors. DC-SIGN is expressed
on some dendritic cells, while DC-SIGNR is localized to certain endothelial cell populations,
including hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells. We found that soluble versions of the hepatitis …
Abstract
DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR are two closely related membrane-associated C-type lectins that bind human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope glycoprotein with high affinity. Binding of HIV to cells expressing DC-SIGN or DC-SIGNR can enhance the efficiency of infection of cells coexpressing the specific HIV receptors. DC-SIGN is expressed on some dendritic cells, while DC-SIGNR is localized to certain endothelial cell populations, including hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells. We found that soluble versions of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 glycoprotein and retrovirus pseudotypes expressing chimeric forms of both HCV E1 and E2 glycoproteins bound efficiently to DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR expressed on cell lines and primary human endothelial cells but not to other C-type lectins tested. Soluble E2 bound to immature and mature human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDCs). Binding of E2 to immature MDDCs was dependent on DC-SIGN interactions, while binding to mature MDDCs was partly independent of DC-SIGN, suggesting that other cell surface molecules may mediate HCV glycoprotein interactions. HCV interactions with DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR may contribute to the establishment or persistence of infection both by the capture and delivery of virus to the liver and by modulating dendritic cell function.
American Society for Microbiology