The cellular receptor for measles virus—elusive no more

✍ Scribed by Yusuke Yanagi

• Book ID: 104590381
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2001
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 98 KB
• Volume: 11
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1052-9276
• DOI: 10.1002/rmv.308

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The identity of the measles virus receptor has been controversial. Several years ago CD46 was identified as a cellular receptor for the Edmonston strain of measles virus, but most clinical isolates of measles virus, which are most efficiently isolated in the marmoset B cell line B95a, cannot grow in many CD46^+^ cell lines. Although some researchers attributed it to post‐entry block in viral replication, others believed that there is a receptor other than CD46 for wild‐type measles viruses. A new study showed that human signalling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM; also known as CDw150) is a cellular receptor for measles virus, including the Edmonston strain. SLAM is expressed on lymphocytes and dendritic cells, and plays an important role in lymphocyte activation. The identification of SLAM as a measles virus receptor nicely explains the pathogenesis of measles virus infection. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.