Interaction of hepatitis C virus-like particles and cells: a model system for studying viral binding and entry

Triyatni, M., Saunier, B., Maruvada, P., Davison, A.R., Ulianich, L., Heller, T., Patel, A.H. , Kohn, L.D. and Liang, T.J. (2002) Interaction of hepatitis C virus-like particles and cells: a model system for studying viral binding and entry. Journal of Virology, 76(18), pp. 9335-9344. (doi: 10.1128/JVI.76.18.9335-9344.2002)

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Abstract

Hepatitis C virus-like particles (HCV-LPs) containing the structural proteins of HCV H77 strain (1a genotype) was used as a model for HCV virion to study virus-cell interaction. HCV-LPs showed a buoyant density of 1.17 to 1.22 g/cm3 in a sucrose gradient and formed double-shelled particles 35 to 49 nm in diameter. Flow cytometry analysis by an indirect method (detection with anti-E2 antibody) and a direct method (use of dye-labeled HCV-LPs) showed that HCV-LPs binds to several human hepatic (primary hepatocytes, HepG2, HuH7, and NKNT-3) and T-cell (Molt-4) lines. HCV-LPs binding to cells occurred in a dose- and calcium-dependent manner and was not mediated by CD81. Scatchard plot analysis suggests the presence of two binding sites for HCV-LPs with high (Kd ∼1 μg/ml) and low (Kd ∼50 to 60 μg/ml) affinities of binding. Anti-E1 and -E2 antibodies inhibited HCV-LPs binding to cells. While preincubation of HCV-LPs with very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) blocked its binding to cells, preincubation of cells with VLDL, LDL, HDL, or anti-LDL-R antibody did not. Confocal microscopy analysis showed that, after binding to cells, dye-labeled HCV-LPs were internalized into the cytoplasm. This process could be inhibited with anti-E1 or anti-E2 antibodies, suggesting that E1 and E2 proteins mediate HCV-LPs binding and, subsequently, their entry into cells. Altogether, our results indicate that HCV-LPs can be used to further characterize the mechanisms involved in the early steps of HCV infection.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Patel, Professor Arvind
Authors: Triyatni, M., Saunier, B., Maruvada, P., Davison, A.R., Ulianich, L., Heller, T., Patel, A.H., Kohn, L.D., and Liang, T.J.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
Journal Name:Journal of Virology
Publisher:American Society for Microbiology
ISSN:0022-538X
ISSN (Online):1098-5514

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