Phorbol dibutyrate-induced megakaryocytic differentiation increases susceptibility of K562 cells to SA11 rotavirus infection

Summary.

 The role of integrins previously implicated as rotavirus receptors in determining cellular susceptibility to SA11 rotavirus was studied, using phorbol dibutyrate (PDB) treatment of K562 cells to induce megakaryocytic differentiation. Expression of α2β1 integrin was detected after 2 days in PDB, and peaked after PDB treatment for 4–7 days. SA11 titres were increased by 1.8- to 10.8-fold over untreated cells after PDB treatment for 2–7 days, and correlated with levels of α2β1 integrin expression in PDB-treated K562 cells.