Cell surface molecules involved in infection mediated by lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus glycoprotein

The glycoprotein (GP) of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), the prototype arenavirus, is a promising envelope protein of lentiviral pseudotype vectors for gene therapy. The distribution of dystroglycan, a known receptor for LCMV, cannot explain the narrow tropism of LCMV-GP-pseudotypes. Here, we examined whether infection of LCMV-GP-pseudotypes was affected by the expression of four cell surface molecules-Axl and Tyro3 (from the TAM family) and DC-SIGN and LSECtin (from the C-type lectin family)-that are known receptors of Lassa virus, another arenavirus. All four molecules enhanced LCMV-GP-pseudotype infection of cells. These results help explain the tropism of LCMV-GP-pseudotypes and further our understanding of LCMV infection in animals.