DENGUE-1 VIRUS BINDING TO HUMAN HEPATOMA HEPG2 AND SIMIAN VERO CELL-SURFACES DIFFERS

1We analysed the binding and infectivity of dengue virus serotype 1 (D EN-1) for the human hepatoma cell line HepG2 in comparison with the si mian kidney cell line Vero. The higher susceptibility of Vero cells to DEN-1 correlated with greater binding affinity of DEN-1 to these cell s. In contrast, the capacity of virus attachment was higher for HepG2 than for Vero cells. Profiles of DEN-1 binding at different pH were ma rkedly different between the two cell types. A type-specific neutraliz ing monoclonal antibody reduced initial virus binding to both cell typ es similarly but complex- and group-specific neutralizing antibodies a ffected virus adhesion differently. Altogether, these results suggest the involvement of different receptors or receptors presented in a dif ferent environment on the cell surface in the two cell lines. The sens itivity to proteolytic enzymes and to ionic detergent of the binding s ites on the two cell types was tested and results indicated that they may be multimeric proteins or protein complexes.