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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: fj.06-7880comv1 22/3/733    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Google Scholar Articles by Yao, L. Articles by Gu, J. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Yao, L. Articles by Gu, J.

Avian influenza receptor expression in H5N1-infected and noninfected human tissues

Lu Yao^*, Christine Korteweg^*, Wei Hsueh and Jiang Gu^*,,1

^* Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and

Infectious Disease Center, Peking University, Beijing, China; and

Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA

¹Correspondence: Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking (Beijing) University, 38 Xueyuan Rd., 100083 Beijing, China. E-mail: jianggu{at}bjmu.edu.cn

Avian and human influenza viruses preferentially bind to -2,3-linked and -2,6-linked sialic acids, respectively. Until today, the distributions of these two receptor types had never been investigated in H5N1-infected human tissue samples. Here, the expression of avian (AIV-Rs) and human influenza receptors (HuIV-Rs) is studied in various organs (upper and lower respiratory tracts, brain, placenta, liver, kidney, heart, intestines, and spleen) of two H5N1 cases and 14 control cases. Histochemical stains using biotinylated Maackia amurensis lectin II and Sambucus nigra agglutinin were performed to localize AIV-Rs and HuIV-Rs, respectively. Immunohistochemical stainings were performed to identify the receptor-bearing cells. AIV-Rs were detected on type II pneumocytes; a limited number of epithelial cells of the upper respiratory tract; and the bronchi, bronchioli, and trachea; as well as on Kupffer cells, glomerular cells, splenic T cells, and neurons in the brain and intestines. HuIV-Rs were abundantly present in the respiratory tract and lungs. They were also detected on Hofbauer cells, glomerular cells, splenic B cells, and in the liver. Moreover, endothelial cells of all organs examined expressed both receptor types. In conclusion, the distribution pattern of AIV-Rs is partially inconsistent with the pattern of infected cells as detected in previous studies, which suggests there may be other receptors or mechanisms involved in H5N1 infection. In addition, the diffuse presence of receptors on endothelial cells may account for the multiple organ involvement in H5N1 influenza. Finally, the relative lack of AIV-Rs in the upper airway may be a one of the factors preventing efficient human-to-human transmission of H5N1 influenza. Yao, L., Korteweg, C., Hsueh, W., Gu, J. Avian influenza receptor expression in H5N1-infected and noninfected human tissues.

Key Words: sialic acid • human influenza virus receptors • lectin

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Korteweg and J. Gu Pathology, Molecular Biology, and Pathogenesis of Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Infection in Humans Am. J. Pathol., May 1, 2008; 172(5): 1155 - 1170. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]