Integrin alpha nu beta 1 is an adenovirus coreceptor

The human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cell line, commonly used for recombinan t adenovirus (Ad) propagation, does not express the Ad coreceptor alphav be ta3 or alphav beta5 integrins, yet these cells are efficiently infected by Ad vectors. Here we demonstrate that Ad binds to HEK293 cells via the fiber receptor CAR and is subsequently internalized via interaction with integri n (alphav beta1, Function-blocking antibodies directed against alphav or be ta1, but not beta3, beta5, or alpha5, integrin subunits block Ad infection and viral endocytosis, Therefore, alphav beta1 serves as a coreceptor for A d infection, and the lack of beta3 and/or beta5 but the relatively high exp ression of alphav beta1 integrins on certain tumor cell types may explain w hy these cells are readily transduced by Ad vectors.