Abstract
The endothelial cell line ECV304, derived from human umbilical cord and identified to be susceptible to dengue virus type 2 (DEN-2) infection, was used to study the molecular mechanism of DEN-2 binding to endothelial cells. DEN-2 was found by virus overlay protein-binding assays (VOPBAs) to bind to three ECV304 cell membrane proteins with molecular masses of 29, 34 and 43 kDa. Only a single protein of 29 kDa was observed when VOPBAs were carried out using preparations of trypsin-treated ECV304 cells. Pre-incubation of live ECV304 cells in culture or cell membrane proteins in modified VOPBAs with the recombinant DEN-2 envelope glycoprotein (rEgp) inhibited DEN-2 infection and blocked virus binding to the three proteins identified. These results indicate that DEN-2 rEgp could bind to three proteins on the surface of ECV304 cells. This viruscell interaction may be associated with the receptor complex specific for DEN-2 infection of endothelial cells.