Abstract
Herpes simplex virus type 1 is an important epithelial pathogen and has the potential for significant morbidity in humans. Here we demonstrate that a cell surface scavenger receptor, macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO), previously thought to enhance antiviral defense by enabling nucleic acid recognition, is usurped by herpes simplex virus type 1 and functions together with heparan sulphate proteoglycans to mediate adsorption to epithelial cells. Ligands of MARCO dramatically inhibit herpes simplex virus type 1 adsorption and infection of human keratinocytes and protect mice against infection. Herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein C closely co-localizes with MARCO at the cell surface, and glycoprotein C binds directly to purified MARCO with high affinity. Increasing MARCO expression enhances herpes simplex virus type 1 infection while MARCO-/- mice have reduced susceptibility to infection by herpes simplex virus type 1. These findings demonstrate that herpes simplex virus type 1 binds to MARCO to enhance its capacity for disease, and suggests a new therapeutic target to alter pathogenicity of herpes simplex virus type 1 in skin infection.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 1963 |
Journal | Nature communications |
Volume | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2013 Jun 6 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemistry(all)
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Physics and Astronomy(all)