Annexin 2-mediated enhancement of cytomegalovirus infection opposes inhibition by annexin 1 or annexin 5.

Biochemical studies have suggested that annexin 2 (A2) may participate in cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. In the current work, effects of A2 monomer (p36) and heterotetramer (A2t; p36(2)p11(2)) were investigated. Demonstrating a role for endogenous A2, the four stages of infection that were followed were each inhibited by anti-p36 or anti-p11 at 37 degrees C. Immuno-inhibition was attenuated when the virus and cells were pre-incubated at 4 degrees C to coordinate virus entry initiated afterwards at 37 degrees C, reconciling controversy in the literature. As an explanation, CMV-induced phosphorylation of p36 was prevented by the 4 degrees C treatment. Supporting these immuno-inhibition data, purified A2t or p11 increased CMV infectious-progeny generation and CMV gene expression. A specific role for A2t was indicated by purified p36 having no effect. Unlike other steps, primary plaque formation was not enhanced by purified A2t or p11, possibly because of undetectable phosphorylation. As annexins 1 (A1) and 5 (A5) interact with A2, their effect on CMV was also tested. Both purified proteins inhibited CMV infection. In each experiment, the concentration of A1 required for half-maximal inhibition was five- to 10-fold lower than that of A5. Addition of A2 opposed A1- or A5-mediated inhibition of CMV, as did certain A2-specific antibodies that had no effect in the absence of added A1 or A5. Transfection of the p36-deficient cell line HepG2 increased CMV infection and was required for inhibition by the other annexins. These data suggest that CMV exploits A2t at physiological temperature to oppose the protection of cells conferred by A1 or A5.