Entry of coxsackievirus A9 into host cells: specific interactions with alpha v beta 3 integrin, the vitronectin receptor.

Attachment and entry of coxsackievirus A9 (CAV-9) to GMK cells were previously shown to be dependent on an arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) motif in the capsid protein VP1, suggesting integrins as candidate receptors for the virus. We have pursued the matter further and show that antibodies specific for the alpha v and/or beta 3 integrin subunits protect GMK cells from CAV-9 infection. Affinity purification of radioiodinated cell surface proteins using CAV-9 or virus-specific peptide (RRRGDL) columns confirmed that the alpha v beta 3 heterodimer, known as the vitronectin receptor, is recognized by the virus in GMK cells. Other proteins, of lower molecular weight (less than 40 kDa), were also bound to and specifically eluted from the columns, but their possible role in attachment and entry of CAV-9 remains to be elucidated by further studies. Of several other related viruses studied, only echovirus 22, which also has an RGD motif in the VP1 capsid protein, was found to compete for cell surface binding with CAV-9.