Heparan sulfate proteoglycans and viral attachment: True receptors or adaptation bias?

Valeria Cagno*, Eirini D. Tseligka, Samuel T. Jones, Caroline Tapparel

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) are composed of unbranched, negatively charged heparan sulfate (HS) polysaccharides attached to a variety of cell surface or extracellular matrix proteins. Widely expressed, they mediate many biological activities, including angiogenesis, blood coagulation, developmental processes, and cell homeostasis. HSPG are highly sulfated and broadly used by a range of pathogens, especially viruses, to attach to the cell surface. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on HSPG–virus interactions and distinguish viruses with established HS binding, viruses that bind HS only after intra-host or cell culture adaptation, and finally, viruses whose dependence on HS for infection is debated. We also provide an overview of the antiviral compounds designed to interfere with HS binding. Many questions remain about the true importance of these receptors in vivo, knowledge that is critical for the design of future antiviral therapies.

Original languageEnglish
Article number596
JournalViruses
Volume11
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2019

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funding: CT was supported by Leenaards Foundation grant n ME10409 and Swiss National Science Foundation grant n. 310030_184777 and Sinergia grant ME11323

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Keywords

  • Broad-spectrum antivirals
  • Glypicans
  • Heparan sulfate proteoglycans
  • HSPG
  • Intra-host adaptation
  • Syndecans
  • Tropism
  • Viral adaptation
  • Viral attachment receptor
  • Viral binding

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology

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