Identification of a putative receptor for subgroup A feline leukemia virus on feline T cells

Cell surface receptors for gammaretroviruses

Evidence obtained during the last few years has greatly extended our understanding of the cell surface receptors that mediate infections of retroviruses and has provided many surprising insights. In contrast to other cell surface components such as lectins or proteoglycans that influence infections indirectly by enhancing virus adsorption onto specific cells, the true receptors induce conformational changes in the viral envelope glycoproteins that are essential for infection. One surprise is that all of the cell surface receptors for gamma-retroviruses are proteins that have multiple transmembrane (TM) sequences, compatible with their identification in known instances as transporters for important solutes. In striking contrast, almost all other animal viruses use receptors that exclusively have single TM sequences, with the sole proven exception we know of being the coreceptors used by lentiviruses. This evidence strongly suggests that virus genera have been prevented because of their previous evolutionary adaptations from switching their specificities between single-TM and multi-TM receptors. This evidence also implies that gamma-retroviruses formed by divergent evolution from a common origin millions of years ago and that individual viruses have occasionally jumped between species (zoonoses) while retaining their commitment to using the orthologous receptor of the new host. Another surprise is that many gamma-retroviruses use not just one receptor but pairs of closely related receptors as alternatives. This appears to have enhanced viral survival by severely limiting the likelihood of host escape mutations. All of the receptors used by gamma-retroviruses contain hypervariable regions that are often heavily glycosylated and that control the viral host range properties, consistent with the idea that these sequences are battlegrounds of virus-host coevolution. However, in contrast to previous assumptions, we propose that gamma-retroviruses have become adapted to recognize conserved sites that are important for the receptor's natural function and that the hypervariable sequences have been elaborated by the hosts as defense bulwarks that surround the conserved viral attachment sites. Previously, it was believed that binding to receptors directly triggers a series of conformational changes in the viral envelope glycoproteins that culminate in fusion of the viral and cellular membranes. However, new evidence suggests that gamma-retroviral association with receptors triggers an obligatory interaction or cross-talk between envelope glycoproteins on the viral surface. If this intermediate step is prevented, infection fails. Conversely, in several circumstances this cross-talk can be induced in the absence of a cell surface receptor for the virus, in which case infection can proceed efficiently. This new evidence strongly implies that the role of cell surface receptors in infections of gamma-retroviruses (and perhaps of other enveloped animal viruses) is more complex and interesting than was previously imagined. Recently, another gammaretroviral receptor with multiple transmembrane sequences was cloned. See Prassolov, Y., Zhang, D., Ivanov, D., Lohler, J., Ross, S.R., and Stocking, C. Sodium-dependent myo-inositol transporter 1 is a receptor for Mus cervicolor M813 murine leukemia virus.

Reevaluation of host ranges of feline leukemia virus subgroups

We reevaluated the host ranges of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) subgroups A, B and C using pseudotype assays based on recombinant NB-tropic murine leukemia virus, which is not usually blocked after viral entry in mammalian cells. Pseudotype viruses of FeLV-B and -C infected a variety of cell lines from many mammalian species. Unexpectedly, FeLV-A pseudotype viruses of two independent isolates from the UK and US also infected a variety of non-feline cell lines including cells from humans, rabbits, pigs and minks. Moreover, both isolates of FeLV-A productively infected human embryonic kidney 293 and mink Mv-1-Lu cells. We conclude that FeLV-A is not strictly ecotropic.

Transduction of feline hematopoietic cells by oncoretroviral vectors pseudotyped with the subgroup A feline leukemia virus (FeLV-A)

The domestic cat is an outbred species with many identified analogues of human genetic diseases. Therefore, it has the potential to serve as a large animal model for evaluating the feasibility of hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy. This study compared gene transfer rates into feline hematopoietic progenitors by oncoretroviral vectors pseudotyped with the subgroup A feline leukemia virus (FeLV-A), the gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV), and the murine amphotropic virus. Gene transfer rates were superior with the FeLV-A pseudotypes, which were then tested for their ability to transduce a cat hematopoietic repopulating cell. At more than 1 year posttransplantation, persistent marking was seen in both lymphoid and myeloid lineages of a myeloablated domestic cat that had received autologous marrow cells transduced with an FeLV-A pseudotyped vector.

A putative cell surface receptor for anemia-inducing feline leukemia virus subgroup C is a member of a transporter superfamily

Domestic cats infected with the horizontally transmitted feline leukemia virus subgroup A (FeLV-A) often produce mutants (termed FeLV-C) that bind to a distinct cell surface receptor and cause severe aplastic anemia in vivo and erythroblast destruction in bone marrow cultures. The major determinant for FeLV-C-induced anemia has been mapped to a small region of the surface envelope glycoprotein that is responsible for its receptor binding specificity. Thus, erythroblast destruction may directly or indirectly result from FeLV-C binding to its receptor. To address these issues, we functionally cloned a putative cell surface receptor for FeLV-C (FLVCR) by using a human T-lymphocyte cDNA library in a retroviral vector. Expression of the 2.0-kbp FLVCR cDNA in naturally resistant Swiss mouse fibroblasts and Chinese hamster ovary cells caused substantial susceptibility to FeLV-C but no change in susceptibilities to FeLV-B and other retroviruses. The predicted FLVCR protein contains 555 amino acids and 12 hydrophobic potential membrane-spanning sequences. Database searches indicated that FLVCR is a member of the major-facilitator superfamily of transporters and implied that it may transport an organic anion. RNA blot analyses showed that FLVCR mRNA is expressed in multiple hematopoietic lineages rather than specifically in erythroblasts. These results suggest that the targeted destruction of erythroblasts by FeLV-C may derive from their greater sensitivity to this virus rather than from a preferential susceptibility to infection.

The receptor binding site of feline leukemia virus surface glycoprotein is distinct from the site involved in virus neutralization

The external surface glycoprotein (SU) of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) contains sites which define the viral subgroup and induce virus-neutralizing antibodies. The subgroup phenotypic determinants have been located to a small variable region, VR1, towards the amino terminus of SU. The sites which function as neutralizing epitopes in vivo are unknown. Recombinant SU proteins were produced by using baculoviruses that contained sequences encoding the SUs of FeLV subgroup A (FeLV-A), FeLV-C, and two chimeric FeLVs (FeLV-215 and FeLV-VC) in which the VR1 domain of FeLV-A had been replaced by the corresponding regions of FeLV-C isolates. The recombinant glycoproteins, designated Bgp70-A, -C, -215, and -VC, respectively, were similar to their wild-type counterparts in several immunoblots and inhibited infection of susceptible cell lines in a subgroup-specific manner. Thus, Bgp70-A interfered with infection by FeLV-A, whereas Bgp70-C, -VC, and -215 did not. Conversely, Bgp70-C, -VC, and -215 blocked infection with FeLV-C, while Bgp70-A had no effect. These results indicate that the site on SU which binds to the FeLV cell surface receptor was preserved in the recombinant glycoproteins. It was also found that the recombinant proteins were able to bind naturally occurring neutralizing antibodies. Bgp70-A, -VC, and -215 interfered with the action of anti-FeLV-A neutralizing antibodies, whereas Bgp70-C did not. Furthermore, Bgp70-C interfered with the action of anti-FeLV-C neutralizing antibodies, while the other proteins did not. These results indicate that the neutralizing epitope(s) of FeLV SU lies outside the subgroup-determining VR1 domain.

FeLV envelope protein (gp70) variable region 5 causes alterations in calcium homeostasis and toxicity of neurons

In humans and animals, retroviruses have been implicated in nervous system disease. Our objective was to characterize the neurotoxicity of a peptide sequence derived from an animal retrovirus, the feline leukemia virus (FeLV). Using a peptide sequence from the subtype FeLV-C envelope protein variable region 5 (VR5), cytotoxicity was demonstrated in studies that evaluated neuronal survival, neurite outgrowth, and alterations in intracellular calcium ion concentration. The FeLV subtype isolate FeLV-CSarma possesses an envelope protein VR5 amino acid sequence that varies by four amino acids from the VR5 amino acid sequence of subtype FeLV-AGlasgow. The polypeptide representing the VR5 of FeLV-CSarma (FeLV-CVR5) is significantly more neurotoxic than the polypeptide sequence representing the VR5 of FeLV-AGlasgow (FeLV-AVR5). FeLV-CVR5 (> or = 3 microM) exposure resulted in significant dose-dependent neurotoxicity. Antibodies to FeLV-CVR5 blocked this effect. Neurite outgrowth was significantly reduced at all tested concentrations (3-12 microM) of FeLV-CVR5, with a 92% reduction in neurite length at 12 microM. FeLV-AVR5 was significantly less neurotoxic with respect to neurite outgrowth than was FeLV-CVR5. The significant reduction in neurotoxicity for FeLV-AVR5 illustrates the importance of the 4-amino-acid difference between it and FeLV-CVR5. Alterations in intracellular calcium ion concentration were associated with this neurotoxicity.

Comparison of T-cell subpopulations in cats naturally infected with feline leukaemia virus or feline immunodeficiency virus

T-cell subsets were studied by flow cytometry in 58 feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)-positive cats with naturally acquired FeLV infection to determine whether the changes in CD4+ or CD8+ T cell populations differed from those observed in 55 feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-positive cats with naturally acquired FIV infection. The sole criterion for inclusion into the study was seropositivity. Mean (SD) CD4+ T cell values of FeLV positive cats were decreased to 31.1 (8.0) per cent and their CD8+ T cell values were increased to 22.8 (6.3) per cent in comparison with uninfected control cats (37.9 [9.5] per cent CD4+; 15.2 [6.3] per cent CD8+). The CD4+/CD8+ ratio was reduced to 1.5 (0.7), compared with 3.0 (1.5) in 39 FeLV-and FIV-negative control cats. Differences from control values were significant, but there was no significant difference between CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes of FeLV-versus FIV-infected cats. These findings indicate that FeLV and FIV have similar effects on T lymphocyte subsets. Both retrovirus infections can induce immunodeficiency, both viruses infect a broad range of lymphohaemopoietic cells, despite having different primary target cells, and can induce the killing of lymphocytic cells in vitro. It is concluded that a decreased CD4+/CD8+ ratio is not restricted to FIV infections but may also occur in FeLV infection.

Interference to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in the absence of downmodulation of the principal virus receptor, CD4

It is thought that interference during human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is established by downmodulation of the principal virus receptor, CD4. Here we present evidence to the contrary. At various times after primary infection, we superinfected T cells in vitro by exposure to a genetically distinct viral clone or to a virus carrying the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene. Replication of each virus strain was determined by restriction enzyme analysis of total cellular DNA, by PCR amplification of viral DNA, or by assay of cell extracts for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity. We found that efficient viral interference is established within 24 h of infection at a multiplicity of infection of 1. At that time, expression of viral structural proteins was low and infected cells displayed undiminished levels of surface CD4 and were fully susceptible to virus binding and fusion. Superinfection by either cell-free HIV-1 or cocultivation was blocked. Cells resistant to superinfection by HIV-1 remained susceptible to Moloney murine leukemia and vaccinia viruses. No interference was observed 4 h after primary infection or in cells infected with either UV-inactivated HIV-1 or a mutant virus defective in virus-cell fusion activity, indicating that binding of primary virus to CD4 is insufficient to prevent superinfection. The minimum viral requirements for this interference are that HIV-1 must be able to enter cells and synthesize viral DNA; Tat-mediated transcription is dispensable. Our results support the existence of a novel pathway to interference to HIV-1 infection, which we term postentry interference, which blocks superinfection during intracellular phases of the virus life cycle.

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) CD4 receptor and its central role in promotion of HIV-1 infection

Interactions between the viral envelope glycoprotein gp120 and the cell surface receptor CD4 are responsible for the entry of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) into host cells in the vast majority of cases. HIV-1 replication is commonly followed by the disappearance or receptor downmodulation of cell surface CD4. This potentially renders cells nonsusceptible to subsequent infection by HIV-1, as well as by other viruses that use CD4 as a portal of entry. Disappearance of CD4 from the cell surface is mediated by several different viral proteins that act at various stages through the course of the viral life cycle, and it occurs in T-cell lines, peripheral blood CD4+ lymphocytes, and monocytes of both primary and cell line origin. At the cell surface, gp120 itself and in the form of antigen-antibody complexes can trigger cellular pathways leading to CD4 internalization. Intracellularly, the mechanisms leading to CD4 downmodulation by HIV-1 are multiple and complex; these include degradation of CD4 by Vpu, formation of intracellular complexes between CD4 and the envelope precursor gp160, and internalization by the Nef protein. Each of the above doubtless contributes to the ultimate depletion of cell surface CD4, although the relative contribution of each mechanism and the manner in which they interact remain to be definitively established.

Haematological disorders associated with feline retrovirus infections

Feline oncornavirus and lentivirus infections have provided useful models to characterize the virus and host cell factors involved in a variety of marrow suppressive disorders and haematological malignancies. Exciting recent progress has been made in the characterization of the viral genotypic features involved in FeLV-associated diseases. Molecular studies have clearly defined the causal role of variant FeLV env gene determinants in two disorders: the T-lymphocyte cytopathicity and the clinical acute immunosuppression induced by the FeLV-FAIDS variant and the pure red cell aplasia induced by FeLV-C/Sarma. Variant or enFeLV env sequences also appear to play a role in FeLV-associated lymphomas. Additional studies are required to determine the host cell processes that are perturbed by these variant env gene products. In the case of the FeLV-FAIDS variant, the aberrant env gene products appear to impair superinfection interference, resulting in accumulation of unintegrated viral DNA and cell death. In other cases it is likely that the viral env proteins interact with host products that are important in cell viability and/or proliferation. Understanding of these mechanisms will therefore provide insights to factors involved in normal lymphohaematopoiesis. Similarly, studies of FeLV-induced haematological neoplasms should reveal recombination or rearrangement events involving as yet unidentified host gene sequences that encode products involved in normal cell growth regulation. These sequences may include novel protoncogenes or sequences homologous to genes implicated in human haematological malignancies. The haematological consequences of FIV are quite similar to those associated with HIV. As with HIV, FIV does not appear to directly infect myeloid or erythroid precursors, and the mechanisms of marrow suppression likely involve virus, viral antigen, and/or infected accessory cells in the marrow microenvironment. Studies using in vitro experimental models are required to define the effects of each of these microenvironmental elements on haematopoietic progenitors. As little is known about the molecular mechanisms of FIV pathogenesis, additional studies of disease-inducing FIV strains are needed to identify the genotypic features that correlate with virulent phenotypic features. Finally, experimental FIV infection in cats provides the opportunity to correlate in vivo virological and haematological changes with in vitro observations in a large animal model that closely mimics HIV infection in man.

Recombination between feline exogenous and endogenous retroviral sequences generates tropism for cerebral endothelial cells

Brain tissues of domestic cats that died of aplastic anemia from infection with either parental feline leukemia virus (FeLV), subgroup C, or a mixture of FeLV-C and recombinants between FeLV-C and an endogenous FeLV provirus were examined by the immunoperoxidase staining technique using a monoclonal antibody (C11D8) directed against an epitope of the viral surface glycoprotein (SU). Positive staining of the central nervous system (CNS) capillary endothelial cells with no labeling on neuronal or glial cells was observed in cats that were inoculated with the virus mixture. This was in contrast to brain tissue of cats infected with FeLV-C alone, which showed no such staining. While non-CNS endothelial cells derived from human umbilical vein (HUVEC) could be readily infected in culture by FeLV-C, endothelial cells derived from human retina (REC) or brain (BEC) were resistant to infection by this parental virus. These latter cells in culture, however, could be infected by the viral mixture. The data suggested that at least one or more of the presumptive recombinant viruses could specifically infect CNS-derived endothelial cells. Using polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing strategies to amplify and analyze DNA fragments of the proviral SU region from cells infected with REC-selected viruses, we found the occurrence of a single recombinant in which two-thirds of the SU gene from the N-terminus of FeLV-C was replaced by the endogenous FeLV element. This recombinant virus, when molecularly cloned, should be useful in determining its potential in vivo neuropathogenicity.

Structure and self assembly of a retrovirus (FeLV) proline rich neutralization domain

The 60 amino acid proline-rich neutralization domain of the external surface unit glycoprotein of feline leukemia virus was chemically synthesized in total and in fragments. We examined the ability of these retroviral peptides to form ordered conformations using 1H-NMR, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and intrinsic viscosity measurements. One dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed that the 60 amino acid peptide could form a stable, folded structure that was long-lived, as shown by the ability to protect amide-protons in D20. Peptides corresponding to the N-terminal 42, N-terminal 20 amino acids, and middle 20 amino acid sections could also form stable structures. The C-terminal segment did not protect any protons in D20. Interestingly, self assembly of the N-terminal 42 and C-terminal 16 amino acid peptides into a structure very close to that of the 60 amino acid domain was observed. The circular dichroism results reveals a large negative cotton effect at 198 nm that is characteristic of the proline-rich beta-turn helixes which consist predominantly of trans-proline. The intrinsic viscosity results suggest a non-random coil structure that is rod shaped. Our conclusion is that PRN60 forms a beta-turn helix and that this region of FeLV-gp70 is a separate folding domain of the retroviral surface unit glycoprotein. The unique conformational properties of PRN60 and its critical role as the predominant target for neutralizing antibody responses suggest that this peptide is a reasonable candidate for producing a synthetic peptide vaccine for FeLV.

Distinct superinfection interference properties yet similar receptor utilization by cytopathic and noncytopathic feline leukemia viruses

Cell killing by cytopathic retroviruses is often associated with a delay or failure in the establishment of superinfection interference. Superinfection has been observed during T-cell killing and fatal immunodeficiency disease induction by the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) chimera FeLV-FAIDS-EECC, containing the surface envelope glycoprotein (SU) of FeLV-FAIDS clone 61C. We demonstrate here that 61C SU has a defect that results in a nearly complete failure to establish superinfection interference against homologous virus challenge. This failure was evident only in feline T (FeT) cell clones expressing envelope protein, not in the rare cells that have survived cytopathic infection to become chronically infected. The regions of SU responsible for this defect were the same as those previously identified as responsible for T-cell killing. The superinfection interference properties of a noncytophatic molecular clone, FeLV-FAIDS-61E, were different in that 61E established interference to homologous virus challenge, both in SU-expressing cell clones and in chronically infected cells. Neither 61E nor EECC established interference against heterologous virus challenge. Viruses expressing chimeric SU proteins displayed varied and intermediate interference properties. Purified 61E and 61C SU competed for binding sites on FeT cell surfaces, and purified 61E SU blocked infection of virus bearing 61E or 61C SU. In addition, purified 61E and 61C SU each coprecipitated 70-kDa FeT cell surface proteins. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that there are multiple cellular components necessary for 61E and 61C attachment to and penetration of FeT cells, a primary receptor that is utilized by both 61E and 61C, and secondary receptors that are likely to be virus specific.

Interference with superinfection and with cell killing and determination of host range and growth kinetics mediated by feline leukemia virus surface glycoproteins

The functions of the surface glycoproteins (SU) of feline leukemia viruses (FeLVs) are of interest since these proteins mediate virus infection and interference and are critical determinants of disease specificity. In this study, we examined the biochemical and genetic determinants of SU important to virus entry and cell killing. In particular, we developed and used vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)/FeLV pseudotype virus interference assays to determine interference subgroupings and assess mechanisms of host cell restriction. We also assessed roles of SU in virus growth kinetics and in the inhibition of cell killing caused by superinfection with cytopathic virus. Subgroup classification by VSV/FeLV pseudotype assay was in agreement with that defined previously by focus interference assay and was found to be determined by changes near the N terminus of SU for FeLV subgroups A (FeLV-A) and C. Virus host range restriction was found to be mediated at the level of virus entry in most cases, although postentry events mediated restriction in the failure of a subgroup A-like, T-cell cytopathic and immunodeficiency-inducing clone (FeLV-FAIDS-EECC) to replicate in feline fibroblasts. FeLV-FAIDS-EECC-induced cell killing was also inhibited by prior infection with one of two FeLV-A isolates. This inhibition could be conveyed by as few as four amino acid changes near the N terminus of the FeLV-A SU and also appeared to be mediated at a postentry level. Lastly, the SU-coding sequence was also found to determine differences in growth kinetics of viruses within the same subgroup. These studies demonstrate that subtle alterations in the FeLV SU, particularly in the N-terminal region, impart multiple significant functional differences which distinguish virus variants.

Feline leukemia virus subgroup C phenotype evolves through distinct alterations near the N terminus of the envelope surface glycoprotein

Feline leukemia viruses (FeLVs) belonging to the C subgroup induce aplastic anemia in domestic cats and have the ability, unique among FeLV strains, to proliferate in guinea pig fibroblasts in tissue culture. Previous studies have shown that the pathogenic and host range specificity of a prototype molecular clone of FeLV-C [FeLV-Sarma-C (FSC)] colocalize to a region encoding the 3' 73 amino acids of the pol gene product and the N-terminal 241 amino acids of the envelope surface glycoprotein named SU. Here, we amplified, via PCR, cloned, and sequenced the SU coding sequence from three additional anemia-inducing subgroup C FeLV isolates. Chimeric viruses were constructed by replacement of fragments of FeLV-C envelope genes into the FeLV-A prototype virus 61E. Using a modified vesicular stomatitis virus-FeLV pseudotype assay, we demonstrated that the subgroup C receptor specificity for each virus was determined by changes within the N-terminal 87-92 amino acids of SU, in which most changes occurred within the 15- to 20-amino-acid first variable region (V1). Determinants for growth in guinea pig cells colocalized to this region. Despite the consistent localization of biological determinants, the only consistent features that distinguished the deduced FeLV-A and FeLV-C proteins was one lysine-to-arginine change and a structural prediction of an alpha-helix in FeLV-A proteins versus random coil in FeLV-C proteins within V1. However, arginine in equilibrium with lysine substitutions were not sufficient to convert the subgroup A virus to the subgroup C phenotype or vice versa. Thus, certain distinct structural changes within the N-terminal region of FeLV SU can result in convergent viral phenotypes.

Hematopoietic target cells of anemogenic subgroup C versus nonanemogenic subgroup A feline leukemia virus

Feline leukemia viruses (FeLVs) belonging to interference subgroup C induce fatal anemia resembling human pure red cell aplasia (PRCA). Subgroup A FeLVs, although closely related genetically to FeLVs of subgroup C, do not induce PRCA. The determinants for PRCA induction by a molecularly cloned prototype subgroup C virus (FeLV-Sarma-C [FSC]) have been localized to the N-terminal 241 amino acids of the surface glycoprotein (SU) gp70. To investigate whether the anemogenic activity of FSC reflects a unique capacity to infect erythroid progenitor cells, we used correlative immunogold, immunofluorescence, and cytological staining to study prospectively the hemopoietic cell populations infected by either FSC or FeLV-FAIDS-61E-A (F6A), a prototype of subgroup A virus. The results demonstrated that although only FSC-infected animals developed erythrocyte aplasia, the env SU and the major core protein (p27) were expressed in a surprisingly large fraction of the lymphoid, erythroid, and myeloid lineage marrow cells in both FSC- and F6A-infected cats. Between days 8 and 17 postinoculation, gp70 and p27 were detected in 43 to 73% of erythroid, 25 to 75% of lymphoid, and 35 to 50% of myeloid lineage cells, regardless of whether the cats were infected with FSC or F6A. Thus, anemogenic subgroup C and nonanemogenic subgroup A FeLVs have similar hemopoietic cell tropism and infection kinetics, despite their divergent effects on erythroid progenitor cell function. Acute anemia induction by subgroup C FeLV, therefore, does not reflect a unique tropism for marrow erythroid cells but rather indicates a unique cytopathic effect of the SU on erythroid progenitor cells.