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Journal of Virology, November 2006, p. 11370-11380, Vol. 80, No. 22
0022-538X/06/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/JVI.01041-06
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
C.-Thomas Bock,2,
Philipp A. Lang,1,2
Susanne Aberle,2
Heike Kaiser,2
Reinhard Kandolf,2 and
Florian Lang1*
Departments of Physiology,1 Molecular Pathology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany2
Received 22 May 2006/ Accepted 28 August 2006
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The cellular receptor for B19 infection has been regarded as a blood group P antigen based on the failure of B19 infection in a patient with a hereditary P antigen defect (12). The P antigen is necessary for B19 binding but not sufficient for virus entry into cells. In this regard, the
5ß1 integrin and the recently identified Ku80 autoantigen act as cellular coreceptors for human parvovirus B19 infection (57, 82). Therefore, target cells of B19 are mainly erythroid progenitor cells expressing high levels of P antigen as well as the coreceptors
5ß1 integrin and Ku80 autoantigen. However, nonerythroid cell lineages, such as fetal myocytes, follicular dendritic cells, and endothelial cells can be infected by B19 (12, 28, 29, 57, 82). We have recently localized B19 genomes in endothelial cells of myocardial tissue of patients with fatal inflammatory cardiomyopathy, predominantly in small intramyocardial arteries and venoles but not in cardiac myocytes or epicardial coronaries, by using in situ hybridization. Concomitant with endothelial cell infection, marked expression of the adhesion molecule E-selectin, accompanied by margination, adherence, penetration, and perivascular infiltration of the heart by T lymphocytes and macrophages, was noted (17, 42).
The 5.6-kb linear single-stranded DNA genome of B19 contains three large open reading frames (ORFs). The first ORF is located at the 5' half of the genome and encodes the nonstructural protein NS1, which has a molecular mass of 77 kDa. The NS1 protein represents site-specific DNA binding and is associated with transcriptional and helicase activities (20, 25, 35). The NS1 protein acts as a transactivator on cellular (e.g., interleukin-6) and viral (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus) promoters (54). It has been demonstrated that the cytotoxicity of B19 is closely related to the interference of NS1 with elements of the signaling pathways leading to host cell apoptosis, such as p21/WAF and caspase 3 (37, 55, 76).
The second and third ORFs located in the 3' half of the B19 genome encode the major VP1 and minor VP2 structural capsid proteins (20). VP1 includes a unique sequence of 227 amino acids (VP1u; 84 kDa) and is followed by the entire VP2 sequence (554 amino acids; 58 kDa). Both structural proteins show also a variety of functional activities that are important for the viral life cycle (11, 14, 34). Specifically, a number of amino acids in the highly conserved domain of the VP1u share homologies to the catalytic site and Ca2+-binding loop of secreted phospholipase A2, which has been found in snake and bee venoms (18, 50, 87). A conserved PLA2-like motif (HDXXY) has recently been identified in the N-terminal extension of the VP1 minor capsid protein in approximately 30 different parvoviruses, including B19 (26, 50, 87). The viral Ca2+-dependent PLA2 is supposed to be necessary for viral entry during penetration of endosomal membranes of the host and nuclear targeting of the viral genome, and it may be involved in the synthesis of eicosanoids, which could play an important role in inflammatory reactions and host cell dysfunction (26, 87). It has been shown recently that the B19 PLA2 activity may play a direct role in initiating and accelerating inflammatory processes in synovial tissue by up-regulation of the COX-2 protein (51). In the case of porcine parvovirus (PPV), site-directed mutagenesis of critical amino acids in the catalytic site strongly decreased both the enzyme activity and the virus infectivity (87). This was shown for the mutation at position 153 with a histidine-to-alanine (H153A) exchange which abolishes the enzyme activity of viral PLA2 (vPLA2) (26, 87). When the critical amino acids in the PLA2 active site of the infectious clone of PPV were mutated, virus was still obtained upon transfection but was no longer infectious (87).
Little is known about the mechanisms linking the specific viral proteins to signs and symptoms of parvoviral infection, especially to mechanisms involved in endothelial dysfunction in patients suffering from inflammatory cardiomyopathy. To gain insight into the functional properties of defined parvovirus B19 proteins, we expressed the viral proteins VP1, expressing viral PLA2-like activity, and VP2 in human endothelial cells (HMEC-1) and exerted a B19 infectious clone to demonstrate the PLA2 activity under the control of the complete B19 genome. In order to prove the general importance of the B19 PLA2 enzymatic activity also in cells not permissive for B19, we expressed the VP1, H153AVP1, and VP2 proteins under the control of a ponasterone A-inducible promoter in 10SW retinoblastoma cells. As cytosolic Ca2+ activity is a critical regulator of host cell proliferation and apoptosis (4-6, 62) and as mammalian phospholipase A2 has recently been shown to enhance Ca2+ entry through the Ca2+ release-activated channel ICRAC (74), we searched for their influence on the regulation of cytosolic Ca2+ activity.
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TABLE 1. PCR primer sets used
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FIG. 1. Schematic presentation of the B19 VP1/VP2-region. The PLA2 motif located in the VP1 unique region is indicated by amino acid sequences. The catalytic site of the PLA2 motif is marked by italic letters. The position of the mutation H153A (for PLA2-negative H153AVP1) is indicated.
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Generation of stable B19 protein-expressing cell lines. Stable inducible B19 protein-expressing VgRXR-10SW cell lines were generated by transfection of human retinoblastoma cells (10SW) expressing the heterodimer ecdysone-retinoid X receptor (RXR), with the pIND-VP1, pIND-H153AVP1, and pIND-VP2 plasmids described above. The ecdysone-RXR binds a modified ecdysone response element in the presence of the ligand ponasterone A (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany). Transfection experiments were performed as described previously (9). The stable integration of genes encoding B19 VP1, H153AVP1, and VP2 was tested by PCR of genomic DNA after selection of the stable cell clones by using neomycin (G418; Calbiochem, Bad Soden, Germany). The transcript levels achieved were similar to the levels in B19-infected tissue (e.g., cardiac endothelial cells). The stably transfected VgRXR-10SW cells (herein called VP1-10SW, H153AVP1-10SW, and VP2-10SW) were maintained in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% (vol/vol) heat-inactivated fetal calf serum, 1% nonessential amino acids, 1% L-glutamine, 5 mM glucose, 100 units/ml penicillin, 100 µg/ml streptomycin, 400 µg/ml zeocin, and 600 µg/ml G418 (Calbiochem, Bad Soden, Germany) in an atmosphere containing 5% CO2 at 37°C. Human cells were allowed to recover for 16 h after plating before ponasterone A (5 µM) induction. Cells were seeded in six-well tissue culture plates at 5 x 105 cells per well. Forty-eight hours after ponasterone A induction, cells were exposed to Ca2+ ions at the indicated concentrations for 12 h and analyzed for Fura-2 imaging.
Detection of B19 VP1/VP2 gene expression by RT-PCR.
Expression of B19 VP1/VP2 RNA of transiently transfected HMEC-1 and stable VP1/VP2-10SW cell lines was confirmed using B19 VP2-specific reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). The detection of B19 VP1/VP2 RNA by RT-PCR using primers specific for the VP1/VP2-coding sequence has been described previously (16, 44). Briefly, total RNA (from
1 x 107 cells) was extracted using the RNeasy kit (QIAGEN), and first-strand cDNA was synthesized. PCR was performed using primer pairs as described previously (7, 16, 44).
Detection of B19 VP1/VP2 proteins by Western blot analysis. Western blot analysis was performed with whole-cell extracts derived from B19 VP1 transiently transfected HMEC-1 cells and stable VP1-10SW and H153AVP1-10SW cell lines as described previously (9). B19 VP1/VP2-specific signals were detected using mouse monoclonal anti-VP2 antibodies (clone 521-5D; Chemicon, Planegg-Muenchen, Germany), secondary anti-mouse horseradish peroxidase-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) antibodies (Dianova, Hamburg, Germany) and the ECL detection kit (Applied Biosystems, Darmstadt, Germany) according to the manufacturers' instructions.
Immunofluorescence experiments to detect B19 VP1/VP2 proteins. Immunofluorescence experiments were performed as described previously (9). B19 VP1/VP2 antigen was detected with monoclonal mouse anti-VP2 antibodies (clone R92F6; Chemicon, Planegg-Muenchen, Germany) and anti-mouse FITC-conjugated secondary antibodies (Sigma, Taufkirchen, Germany). Nuclei were stained with 1 g/ml DAPI (4,6-diamidine-2-phenylindole-dihydrochloride; Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany). Analysis of cells was performed using an immunofluorescence microscope (Zeiss; Oberkochen, Germany).
Solution for cell physiological experiments. Cell physiological experiments were performed at 37°C in Ringer solution containing 125 mM NaCl, 5 mM KCl, 1 mM MgSO4, 32 mM HEPES, 5 mM glucose, and 1 mM CaCl2 (pH 7.4). Where indicated, ionomycin (Sigma, Taufkirchen, Germany) was used at a concentration of 10 µM. The final concentration of the solvent dimethyl sulfoxide was <0.1%.
Measurement of intracellular Ca2+. Fura-2 fluorescence was utilized for cytosolic Ca2+ determinations. Intracellular Ca2+ measurements were performed as described previously (78). Retinoblastoma cells were loaded with Fura-2 (2.5 µM; Molecular Probes, Goettingen, Germany) for 30 min at 37°C. Fluorescence measurements were carried out with an inverted phase-contrast microscope (Axiovert 100; Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany). Cells were excited alternatively at 340 and 380 nm, and the light was deflected by a dichroic mirror into the objective (Fluar 40x/1.30 oil; Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany). Emitted fluorescence intensity was recorded at 505 nm, and data acquisition was performed by using the Imaging Workbench program (Axon Instruments, Foster City, CA). Experiments were made prior to, during, and following exposure to nominally Ca2+-free solution (5 mM EGTA added). In the absence of Ca2+, the intracellular Ca2+ stores were depleted by inhibition of the vesicular Ca2+ pump by thapsigargin (1 µM; Molecular Probes).
Statistical analysis. Data are expressed as arithmetic means ± standard errors of the means (SEM), and a statistical analysis was done by paired or unpaired t test where appropriate.
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The VP1 and VP2 patient-specific PCR products and the H153AVP1 sequences were introduced into eukaryotic expression vectors (pcDNA and pIND) under the control of a cytomegalovirus promoter or an ecdysone-inducible minimal heat shock promoter, respectively. The pcDNA-VP1 and pcDNA-VP2 constructs and the B19 replication-competent clone pB19-M20 were transiently transfected into HMEC-1 cells. In addition, the retinoblastoma cell line VgRXR-10SW expressing the heterodimer ecdysone-RXR that binds the ecdysone analog ponasterone A was used to generate the stable inducible B19 protein-expressing cell lines VP1-10SW, H153AVP1-10SW, and VP2-10SW. Upon the addition of ponasterone A, the expression of the B19 proteins was induced. In order to determine the expression of VP1 and H153AVP1 proteins, RT-PCR (data not shown), immunofluorescence, and Western blot experiments (Fig. 2) were performed. The immunofluorescence experiments showed that VP1/VP2 proteins expressed by the pB19-M20 and pcDNA-VP1 plasmids were mainly located to the cell nuclei (Fig. 2A). This nuclear localization of B19 VP1/VP2 proteins is in good accordance to recently published data (88). However, expression of H153AVP1 proteins revealed a nuclear and cytoplasmic distribution. The atypical intracellular localization of the mutated protein might be due to the introduced mutation, possibly changing the presentation of putative nuclear localization signals (Fig. 2B). Differences in the amounts of VP1/VP2 proteins detected after transfection of HMEC-1 cells with the pB19-M20, pcDNA-VP1, and pcDNA-H153AVP1 plasmids by Western blot analyses could be due to the presence of the transactivator activity of the B19 NS1 protein (Fig. 2B). NS1 proteins are expressed only by the pB19-M20 construct and can enhance the B19 P6 promoter activity up to 50 times in comparison to normal P6 promoter activity (33). As further demonstrated by these experiments the VP1 and H153AVP1 proteins could be detected in correct sizes. Additionally, the expression of B19-specific transcription products of the integrated VP1, H153AVP1, and VP2 constructs before and after induction with ponasterone A was analyzed by RT-PCR, which showed correct B19-specific mRNA production (data not shown).
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FIG. 2. Expression of VP1 proteins in HMEC-1 cells. Images from immunofluorescence experiments (A) and Western blot analysis (B) of VP1 protein abundance in HMEC-1 cells are shown. (A) Expression of the B19 replication-competent plasmid pB19-M20 (upper panel) and the VP1 (middle panel) and H153AVP1 (lower panel) proteins in transfected HMEC-1 cells as detected with monoclonal anti-VP2 and secondary FITC-labeled goat anti-mouse antibodies 48 h after transfection. The corresponding images of DAPI staining is shown on the right. (B) Western blots showing expression of VP1 (84 kDa) and VP2 (58 kDa) polypeptides from B19-positive serum, from HMEC-1 cells transfected with pB19-M20, and from pcDNA-VP1 and pcDNA-H153AVP1 constructs. B19-specific VP1/VP2 polypeptides were detected using monoclonal anti-VP2.
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The removal of extracellular Ca2+ and inhibition of the vesicular Ca2+ pump with thapsigargin (1 µM) was followed by a rapid decrease of cytosolic Ca2+ activity (Fig. 3 and 4). The following addition of extracellular Ca2+ triggered a rapid increase of cytosolic Ca2+ activity (Fig. 3 and 4). Again, no significant differences were observed between cells stably transfected with VP1 or VP2. However, following treatment with ponasterone A, the Ca2+ entry following the readdition of extracellular Ca2+ was significantly more rapid in VP1-expressing cells (Fig. 3), pointing to increased activity of the Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ channel (ICRAC). In contrast, the slope of Ca2+ entry was not significantly modified by ponasterone A in control cells stably transfected with the empty vector (before ponasterone A treatment, 0.0077 ± 0.0012 s1, n = 8; after ponasterone A treatment, 0.0093 ± 0.0010 s1, n = 8). Similarly, Ca2+ entry was not significantly accelerated by the treatment with ponasterone A of cells stably transfected with VP2 (Fig. 4).
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FIG. 3. Increase of Ca2+ entry into retinoblastoma cells by expression of VP1. (A) Representative original tracings showing the Fura-2 fluorescence ratios (340/380 nm) in Fura-2-loaded stably transfected VP1-expressing retinoblastoma cells (10SW) exposed initially to Ringer solution containing 1 mM extracellular Ca2+ and to nominally Ca2+-free Ringer solution (0 mM Ca2+, 5 mM EGTA; white arrow). During exposure to Ca2+-free solution, Ca2+ pump inhibitor thapsigargin (1 µM; Molecular Probes) was added. Subsequently, the cells were exposed to Ringer solution with thapsigargin and Ca2+ (black arrow). Finally, the cells were exposed to 10 µM of the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin for calibration in the absence and presence of Ca2+. The upper panel shows results for cells in the absence of ponasterone A, and the lower panel shows results for cells in the presence of ponasterone A for stimulation of the induction of VP1 expression. (B) Arithmetic means (± SEM; n = 10) of the Fura-2 fluorescence ratios after incubation, as described for panel A, in Ca2+-containing extracellular fluid and in Ca2+-free and thapsigargin (Tg)-containing Ringer solution, and following the readdition of extracellular Ca2+. Open bars represent cells in the absence of ponasterone A, and filled bars represent cells in the presence of ponasterone A for the stimulation of VP1 expression. (C) Arithmetic means (± SEM; n = 10) of the slopes of increasing Fura-2 fluorescence ratios (change in ratio/second) after the readdition of Ca2+ in cells incubated as described for panel A in the absence and presence of ponasterone A (P). The number sign indicates a significant difference (P 0.05, analysis of variance) compared to the respective value for cells in the absence of ponasterone A.
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FIG. 4. Lack of effect on cytosolic Ca2+ activity by expression of VP2. (A) Representative original tracings showing the Fura-2 fluorescence ratios (340/380 nm) in Fura-2-loaded stably transfected VP2-expressing retinoblastoma cells (10SW) treated as described in the legend to Fig. 3. The upper panel shows results for cells in the absence of ponasterone A, and the lower panel shows results for cells in the presence of ponasterone A. (B) Arithmetic means (± SEM; n = 8) of the Fura-2 fluorescence ratios after incubation as described for panel A, in Ca2+-containing extracellular fluid and in Ca2+-free and thapsigargin (Tg)-containing Ringer solution, and following the readdition of extracellular Ca2+. Open bars represent cells in the absence of ponasterone A, and filled bars represent cells in the presence of ponasterone A to stimulate VP2 expression. (C) Arithmetic means (± SEM; n = 8) of the slopes of increasing Fura-2 fluorescence ratios (change in ratio/second) after the readdition of Ca2+ in cells incubated as described for panel A in the absence and presence of ponasterone A (P).
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FIG. 5. Lack of effect on cytosolic Ca2+ activity by expression of VP1 with inactivated phospholipase A2. (A) Representative original tracings showing the Fura-2 fluorescence ratio (340/380 nm) in Fura-2-loaded stably transfected H153AVP1 mutant (VP1 PLA2-negative)-expressing retinoblastoma cells (10SW) treated as described in the legend to Fig. 3. The upper panel shows results for cells in the absence of ponasterone A, and the lower panel shows results for cells in the presence of ponasterone A to stimulate H153AVP1 mutant expression. (B) Arithmetic means (± SEM; n = 8) of the Fura-2 fluorescence ratios after incubation as described for panel A, in Ca2+-containing extracellular fluid and in Ca2+-free and thapsigargin (Tg)-containing Ringer solution, and following the readdition of extracellular Ca2+. Open bars represent cells in the absence of ponasterone A, and filled bars represent cells in the presence of ponasterone A. (C) Arithmetic means (± SEM; n = 8) of the slopes of increasing Fura-2 fluorescence ratios (change in ratio/second) after the readdition of Ca2+ in cells incubated as described for panel A in the absence and presence of ponasterone A (P).
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FIG. 6. Stimulation of Ca2+ entry by lysophosphatidylcholine. (A) Representative original tracings showing the Fura-2 fluorescence ratios (340/380 nm) in untreated (upper panel) or lysophosphatidylcholine (1 µg/ml)-treated Fura-2-loaded stably transfected VP1-expressing retinoblastoma cells (10SW) treated as described in the legend to Fig. 3. (B) Arithmetic means (± SEM; n = 5) of the Fura-2 fluorescence ratios after incubation as described for panel A, in Ca2+-containing extracellular fluid and in Ca2+-free and thapsigargin (Tg)-containing Ringer solution, and following the readdition of extracellular Ca2+. Open bars represent cells in the absence of lysophosphatidylcholine, and filled bars represent cells in the presence of lysophosphatidylcholine. (C) Arithmetic means (± SEM; n = 5) of the slopes of increasing Fura-2 fluorescence ratios (change in ratio/second) after the readdition of Ca2+ in cells incubated as described for panel A, in the absence and presence of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). The number sign indicates a significant difference (P 0.05, analysis of variance) compared to the respective value for cells in the absence of lysophosphatidylcholine. P, ponasterone A.
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FIG. 7. Increase of Ca2+ entry into endothelial cells by expression of VP1. (A) Representative original tracings showing the Fura-2 fluorescence ratio (340/380 nm) in Fura-2-loaded transiently transfected endothelial cells (HMEC-1) treated as described in the legend to Fig. 3. The upper panel shows results for HMEC-1 B19-negative control cells using pCR-Script plasmid, the middle panel shows results for VP1-expressing HMEC-1 cells (VP1 HMEC-1 cells) transiently transfected with pcDNA-VP1 plasmid, and the lower panel shows H153AVP1-expressing HMEC-1 cells (H153AVP1HMEC-1 cells) transiently transfected with pcDNA-H153AVP1 48 h after transfection. (B) Arithmetic means (± SEM; n = 8) of the Fura-2 fluorescence ratios after incubation as described for panel A, in Ca2+-containing extracellular fluid and in Ca2+-free and thapsigargin (Tg)-containing Ringer solution, and following the readdition of extracellular Ca2+. Open bars represent HMEC-1 B19-negative control cells (pCR-Script), and filled bars represent transiently transfected HMEC-1 cells with pcDNA-VP1. The cross-hatched bars represent pcDNA-H153AVP1-transfected HMEC-1 cells. (C) Arithmetic means (± SEM; n = 8) of the slopes of increasing Fura-2 fluorescence ratios (changes in ratio/second) after the readdition of Ca2+ in cells incubated as described for panel A, in the HMEC-1 control vector, VP1-expressing HMEC-1 cells transiently transfected with pcDNA-VP1 plasmid (VP1 HMEC-1 cells), and H153AVP1-expressing HMEC-1 cells transiently transfected with pcDNA-H153AVP1 (H153AVP1HMEC-1 cells). The number sign indicates a significant difference (P 0.05, analysis of variance) compared to the respective values for the other cells.
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FIG. 8. Increase of Ca2+ entry into pB19-M20-transfected HMEC-1 cells. (A) Representative original tracings showing the Fura-2 fluorescence ratios (340/380 nm) in Fura-2-loaded HMEC-1 cells transiently transfected with the replication-competent pB19-M20 plasmid treated as described in the legend to Fig. 3. The upper panel shows results for the HMEC-1 control vector (pCR-Script), and the lower panel shows results for pB19-M20 transiently transfected HMEC-1 cells. (B) Arithmetic means (± SEM; n = 4) of the Fura-2 fluorescence ratios after incubation as described for panel A, in Ca2+-containing extracellular fluid and in Ca2+-free and thapsigargin (Tg)-containing Ringer solution, and following the readdition of extracellular Ca2+. Open bars represent HMEC-1 B19-negative control cells, and filled bars represent HMEC-1 pB19-M20-transfected cells. Asterisks indicate significant difference (P 0.05, analysis of variance) compared to the respective values for cells prior to the removal of Ca2+. (C) Arithmetic means (± SEM; n = 4) of the slopes of increasing Fura-2 fluorescence ratios (change in ratio/second) after the readdition of Ca2+ as described for panel A, in the absence of the complete genome (HMEC-1 B19-negative control cells, pCR-Script) or in the presence of the complete genome (HMEC-1 pB19-M20 transfected). The number sign indicates a significant difference (P 0.05, analysis of variance) compared to the respective value for the other cells.
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The present experiments disclose a novel action of parvovirus B19 on host cells. Overexpression of VP1, but not that of VP2, virtually doubles the slope of Ca2+ entry into Ca2+-depleted cells, which is indicative of an activation of store-operated Ca2+ channels or Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ channel (ICRAC) (3, 62, 64). Notably, cytosolic Ca2+ activity is not increased during resting conditions, i.e., in the absence of ICRAC activation. There was a slight variability of Fura-2 fluorescence ratios prior to the addition of ponasterone; however, this did not reach functional significance. To avoid any bias from this variability, comparisons were made between the absence and presence of ponasterone and between the absence and presence of Ca2+. ICRAC is not constitutively active but requires activation, which is accomplished by the depletion of cytosolic Ca2+ stores following the removal of extracellular Ca2+ and simultaneous inhibition of vesicular Ca2+ ATPase or by stimulation with appropriate hormones and mediators, including mitogens and inflammatory cytokines (49, 62, 89).
The present observations allow some further insight into the mechanism involved in activation of Ca2+ entry. The recent observation that mammalian phospholipase A2 has been shown to activate ICRAC (74) prompted us to test whether the phospholipase A2 activity of VP1 accounts for the activation of Ca2+ entry. Thus, we abrogated the phospholipase A2 activity of VP1 by replacing a histidine with an alanine in the putative catalytic site (H153AVP1). As a matter of fact, the mutation completely abolished the effect of VP1 expression on Ca2+ entry. Moreover, the effect of VP1 expression was mimicked by the addition of lysophosphatidylcholine, a product of phospholipase A2. As discussed earlier (74), arachidonic acid appears not to be involved in activation of ICRAC. Whatever product is involved, it appears safe to conclude that VP1 affects Ca2+ entry by virtue of its phospholipase A2 activity.
The pleiotropic actions of phospholipase A2 (73, 84) include the stimulation of smooth muscle and endothelial cells (22, 72). Altered regulation of cytosolic Ca2+ activity is expected to affect a wide variety of cellular functions. Ca2+ is involved in the control of exocytosis, contraction, enzyme activity, and gene expression (4-6, 62). As reviewed elsewhere (46), cytosolic Ca2+ activity further plays a critical role in the regulation of cell proliferation (4-6, 62, 69, 70, 83). ICRAC is stimulated by growth factors (65) and triggers Ca2+ entry and subsequent Ca2+ oscillations into proliferating cells (47), an effect required for stimulation of cell proliferation (46). Conversely, lymphocyte apoptosis following CD95 receptor triggering is paralleled by the inhibition of ICRAC (23, 49). The inhibition of ICRAC abrogates activation and proliferation of lymphocytes (23, 49). It is tempting to speculate that the stimulation of ICRAC serves to stimulate proliferation of the infected cell, which may foster viral replication (79). We hypothesize that the demonstrated B19 phospholipase A2 activity upon Ca2+ entry may be a consequence of early B19 infection steps. The hypothesis is strongly supported by the observation that the B19 phospholipase A2 activity on the viral capsid plays a key role in synoviocyte activation (51). Along those lines, VP1 polypeptides and VP1 domains sticking out from partially degraded capsids may be subject to different regulatory properties during the B19 infection cycle (40, 51, 67, 68). On the other hand, our in vitro results presented here also indicate that the VP1 PLA2 activity on the regulation of Ca2+ entry may be effective after protein synthesis, as shown by the experiments using the pB19-M20 full-length clone. The fact that B19 replication depends on proliferative active cells and that altered cytosolic Ca2+ activity supports cell proliferation which can foster viral replication point to viral PLA2 activity of invading viruses to stimulate endothelial cell proliferation. In contrast to expression of VP1 or VP2, however, expression of B19 protein NS1 triggers apoptosis, an effect apparently involving mechanisms other than Ca2+ entry (66).
In conclusion, the present observations indicate that the parvoviral B19 protein VP1 leads to activation of ICRAC, an effect likely participating in the pathophysiology of parvovirus B19 infection.
This study was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, SFB-Transregio 19 (project TP B5), the Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie (Center for Interdisciplinary Clinical Research) (grant 01 KS 9602), and the Karl-Kuhn Stiftung to C.-T.B.
Published ahead of print on 6 September 2006. ![]()
A.L. and C.T.B. contributed equally to this study and thus share first authorship. ![]()
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