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Detection of expression of influenza virus receptors in tissues of BALB/c mice by histochemistry

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Abstract

Infection of host cells with the influenza virus is mediated by specific interactions between the viral hemagglutinin and its cell receptor, oligosaccharides containing sialic acid (SA) residues. Avian and human influenza viruses preferentially bind to α-2, 3-linked and α-2, 6-linked sialic acids, respectively. Therefore, differential expression of these receptors may be crucial to influenza virus infection. To date, the distribution of these two receptors has never been investigated in the tissues of BALB/c mice, which is the routine animal model for influenza research. Here, the expression pattern of alpha-2,3 and alpha-2,6 sialic acid-linked receptors in various organs (respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, brain, cerebellum, spleen, liver, kidney and heart) of BALB/c mice were determined. Histochemical staining of mouse tissue sections was performed by using biotinylated Maackia amurensis lectin II (MAAII), and Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA) were performed to detect the alpha-2,3 and alpha-2,6 sialic acid-linked receptors, respectively. The results showed that the alpha-2,3 and alpha-2,6 sialic acid-linked receptors were both expressed on trachea, lung, cerebellum, spleen, liver and kidney. Only the epithelial cells of cecum, rectum and blood vessels in the heart express the alpha-2,6 sialic acid-linked receptors. The distribution patterns of the two receptors may explain why this model animal can be infected by the AIV and HuIV and the pathological changes when infection occurred. These data can account for the multiple organ involvement observed in influenza infection and should assist investigators in interpreting results obtained when analyzing AIV or HuIV in the mouse model of disease.

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Abbreviations

AIV:

avian influenza virus

AIV-Rs:

avian influenza virus receptors

HA:

hemagglutinin

HuIV:

human influenza virus

HuIV-Rs:

human influenza virus receptors

MAAII:

Maackia amurensis lectin II

SA:

sialic acid

SNA:

Sambucus nigra agglutinin

SAα-2, 3-gal:

α-2, 3 linkage to the penultimate galactose

SAα-2, 6-gal:

α-2, 6 linkage to the penultimate galactose

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants from the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (Grant No. IRT0723), Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (Grant No. NCET-06-0752), the Innovative Research Teams Program of Guangdong Natural Scince Foundation (Grant No. 5200638) and Program for Science Foundation of Guangdong provice (Grant No. 2006B21101001).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, People’s Republic of China

    Zhang-Yong Ning, Min-Yi Luo, Wen-Bao Qi, Bo Yu, Pei-Rong Jiao & Ming Liao

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  1. Zhang-Yong Ning
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Correspondence to Ming Liao.

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Ning, ZY., Luo, MY., Qi, WB. et al. Detection of expression of influenza virus receptors in tissues of BALB/c mice by histochemistry. Vet Res Commun 33, 895–903 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-009-9307-3

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