Human parvovirus B19 can infect cynomolgus monkey marrow cells in tissue culture

A Conserved Receptor-Binding Domain in the VP1u of Primate Erythroparvoviruses Determines the Marked Tropism for Erythroid Cells

Parvovirus B19 (B19V) is a human pathogen with a marked tropism for erythroid progenitor cells (EPCs). The N-terminal of the VP1 unique region (VP1u) contains a receptor-binding domain (RBD), which mediates virus uptake through interaction with an as-yet-unknown receptor (VP1uR). Considering the central role of VP1uR in the virus tropism, we sought to investigate its expression profile in multiple cell types. To this end, we established a PP7 bacteriophage-VP1u bioconjugate, sharing the size and VP1u composition of native B19V capsids. The suitability of the PP7-VP1u construct as a specific and sensitive VP1uR expression marker was validated in competition assays with B19V and recombinant VP1u. VP1uR expression was exclusively detected in erythroid cells and cells reprogrammed towards the erythroid lineage. Sequence alignment and in silico protein structure prediction of the N-terminal of VP1u (N-VP1u) from B19V and other primate erythroparvoviruses (simian, rhesus, and pig-tailed) revealed a similar structure characterized by a fold of three or four α-helices. Functional studies with simian parvovirus confirmed the presence of a conserved RBD in the N-VP1u, mediating virus internalization into human erythroid cells. In summary, this study confirms the exclusive association of VP1uR expression with cells of the erythroid lineage. The presence of an analogous RBD in the VP1u from non-human primate erythroparvoviruses emphasizes their parallel evolutionary trait and zoonotic potential.

Human Parvoviruses

Parvovirus B19 (B19V) and human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1), members of the large Parvoviridae family, are human pathogens responsible for a variety of diseases. For B19V in particular, host features determine disease manifestations. These viruses are prevalent worldwide and are culturable in vitro, and serological and molecular assays are available but require careful interpretation of results. Additional human parvoviruses, including HBoV2 to -4, human parvovirus 4 (PARV4), and human bufavirus (BuV) are also reviewed. The full spectrum of parvovirus disease in humans has yet to be established. Candidate recombinant B19V vaccines have been developed but may not be commercially feasible. We review relevant features of the molecular and cellular biology of these viruses, and the human immune response that they elicit, which have allowed a deep understanding of pathophysiology.

Different patterns of restriction to B19 parvovirus replication in human blast cell lines

B19 parvovirus can replicate in erythroid progenitor cells and in a small number of human blast cell lines. To better understand and analyze the B19 virus replicative cycle, we performed and compared the infection of bone marrow cells and of different blast cell lines with erythroblastoid and megakaryoblastoid phenotypic characteristics (UT-7, TF-1, M-07, and B1647). Following in vitro infection, B19-specific nucleic acids were characterized with regard to the genome-replicative intermediates, the transcription pattern, and the localization of virus-specific nucleic acids inside infected cells. While all cell lines tested proved to be susceptible to B19 virus infection, two different patterns of restriction to replication of B19 virus were observed. In the first restriction pattern, observed in UT-7 cells, the single-stranded viral DNA was converted to double-stranded replicative intermediates, identical to those found in bone marrow cells, and a full set of viral transcripts were observed. However, replication and transcription were restricted to a small subset of cells, and production of capsid proteins was not detected. In the second restriction pattern, observed in TF-1, M-07, and B1647 cells, the single-stranded viral DNA was not converted to double-stranded replicative intermediates.

Rheumatic manifestations of parvovirus B19 infection

Human parvovirus B19 is an emerging DNA virus. B19 infection is common and widespread. Major manifestations of B19 infection are transient aplastic crisis, erythema infectiosum, hydrops fetalis, acute and chronic rheumatoid-like arthropathy, and, in the immunocompromised host, chronic or recurrent bone marrow suppression. A number of less common manifestations of B19 infection include various rash illnesses, neuropathies, and acute fulminant liver failure. Of rheumatologic interest, B19 infection must be differentiated from early presentation of more classic erosive rheumatoid arthritis and, in some cases, systemic lupus erythematosus. It is unlikely that B19 plays a role in classic erosive rheumatoid arthritis, but understanding pathogenesis of B19 arthropathy may provide insights into the mechanisms by which rheumatoid arthritis develops. Evidence for persistence of B19 infection suggests that human parvovirus B19 infection may serve as a model for the study of virus-host interactions and the role of viruses in the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases.

Human parvovirus B19 nonstructural (NS1) protein induces apoptosis in erythroid lineage cells

Infection of erythroid-lineage cells by human parvovirus B19 is characterized by a gradual cytocidal effect. Accumulating evidence now implicates the nonstructural (NS1) protein of the virus in cytotoxicity, but the mechanism underlying the NS1-induced cell death is not known. Using a stringent regulatory system, we demonstrate that NS1 cytotoxicity is closely related to apoptosis, as evidenced by cell morphology, genomic DNA fragmentation, and cell cycle analysis with the human erythroleukemia cell line K562 and the erythropoietin-dependent megakaryocytic cell line UT-7/Epo. Apoptosis was significantly inhibited by an interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta)-converting enzyme (ICE)/CED-3 family protease inhibitor, Ac-DEVD-CHO (CPP32; caspase 3), whereas a similar inhibitor of ICE (caspase 1), Ac-YVAD-CHO, had no effect. Furthermore, stable expression of the human Bcl-2 proto-oncogene resulted in near-total protection from cell death in response to NS1 induction. Mutations engineered into the nucleoside triphosphate-binding domain of NS1 significantly rescued cells from NS1-induced apoptosis without having any effect on NS1-induced activation of the IL-6 gene expression which is mediated by NF-kappaB. Furthermore, using pentoxifylline, an inhibitor of NF-kappaB activation, we demonstrate that the NF-kappaB-mediated IL-6 activation by NS1 is uncoupled from the apoptotic pathway. This functional dissection indicates a complexity underlying the biochemical function of human parvovirus NS1 in transcriptional activation and induction of apoptosis. Our findings indicate that NS1 of parvovirus B19 induces cell death by apoptosis in at least erythroid-lineage cells by a pathway that involves caspase 3, whose activation may be a key event during NS1-induced cell death.

The Simian Parvoviruses

Autonomous parvoviruses with tropism for erythroid cells have recently been reclassified in a new genus, erythrovirus. Although B19 is the type member, and presently the only internationally accepted member of the erythrovirus genus, we have identified three new simian viruses, all of which have the molecular features of parvoviruses, and are highly tropic for erythroid progenitor cells. This review describes the identification of these new animal parvoviruses and summarises current knowledge of their molecular, clinical and epidemiological features. Most studies have been performed with the first virus discovered, simian parvovirus (SPV), which was isolated from anaemic cynomolgus monkeys. SPV is currently under investigation as an animal model for B19 parvovirus infection. Clinical similarities and molecular homology to parvovirus B19 justify the inclusion of these novel viruses as new members of the erythrovirus genus. Copyright 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Parvoviruses and bone marrow failure

Parvovirus B19, the only known human pathogenic parvovirus, is highly tropic to human bone marrow and replicates only in erythroid progenitor cells. The basis of this erythroid tropism is the tissue distribution of the B19 cellular receptor, globoside (blood group P antigen). In individuals with underlying hemolytic disorders, infection with parvovirus B19 is the primary cause of transient aplastic crisis. In immunocompromised patients, persistent B19 infection may develop that manifests as pure red cell aplasia and chronic anemia. B19 infection in utero can result in fetal death, hydrops fetalis or congenital anemia. Diagnosis is based on examination of the bone marrow and B19 virological studies. Treatment of persistent infection with immunoglobulin leads to a rapid, marked resolution of the anemia.