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Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) is associated with post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome
and reproductive problems in pigs. Cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage are important target
cells in PCV2-infected pigs, but the method of binding and entry of PCV2 into these cells is
unknown. Therefore, binding and entry of PCV2 to the porcine monocytic cell line 3D4/31 were
studied by visualization of binding and internalization of PCV2 virus-like particles (VLPs) by confocal
microscopy and chemical inhibition of endocytic pathways (clathrin- and caveolae-mediated
endocytosis and macropinocytosis), followed by evaluation of the level of PCV2 infection.
It was shown that PCV2 VLPs bound to all cells, with maximal binding starting from 30 min
post-incubation. Bound PCV2 VLPs were internalized in 47±5?0% of cells. Internalization was
continuous, with 70?5±9?7% of bound PCV2 VLPs internalized at 360 min post-incubation.
Internalizing PCV2 VLPs co-localized with clathrin. PCV2 infection was decreased significantly
by chemical inhibitors that specifically blocked (i) actin-dependent processes, including
cytochalasin D (75?5±7?0% reduction) and latrunculin B (71?0±3?0% reduction), and (ii)
clathrin-mediated endocytosis, including potassium depletion combined with hypotonic shock
(50?2±6?3% reduction), hypertonic medium (56?4±5?7% reduction), cytosol acidification
(59?1±7?1% reduction) and amantadine (52?6±6?7% reduction). Inhibiting macropinocytosis
with amiloride and caveolae-dependent endocytosis with nystatin did not decrease PCV2
infection significantly. PCV2 infection was reduced by the lysosomotropic weak bases ammonium
chloride (47?0±7?9% reduction) and chloroquine diphosphate (49?0±5?6% reduction).
Together, these data demonstrate that PCV2 enters 3D4/31 cells predominantly via
clathrin-mediated endocytosis and requires an acidic environment for infection. |
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