The essentiality of α-2-macroglobulin in human salivary innate immunity against new H1N1 swine origin influenza A virus

Chao Hsuan Chen, Xing Quan Zhang, Chih Wei Lo, Pei Feng Liu, Yu Tsueng Liu, Richard L. Gallo, Ming Fa Hsieh, Robert T. Schooley, Chun Ming Huang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

A novel strain of influenza A H1N1 emerged in the spring of 2009 and has spread rapidly throughout the world. Although vaccines have recently been developed that are expected to be protective, their availability was delayed until well into the influenza season. Although antiinfluenza drugs such as neuraminidase inhibitors can be effective, resistance to these drugs has already been reported. Although human saliva was known to inhibit viral infection and may thus prevent viral transmission, the components responsible for this activity on influenza virus, in particular, influenza A swine origin influenza A virus (S-OIV), have not yet been defined. By using a proteomic approach in conjunction with beads that bind α-2, 6-sialylated glycoprotein, we determined that an α-2-macroglobulin (A2M) and an A2M-like protein are essential components in salivary innate immunity against hemagglutination mediated by a clinical isolate of S-OIV (San Diego/01/09 S-OIV). A model of an A2M-based "double-edged sword" on competition of α-2,6- sialylated glycoprotein receptors and inactivation of host proteases is proposed. We emphasize that endogenous A2M in human innate immunity functions as a natural inhibitor against S-OIV.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2396-2401
Number of pages6
JournalProteomics
Volume10
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2010

Keywords

  • H1N1 swine origin influenza A virus
  • Microbiology
  • Salivary innate immunity
  • α-2,6-sialylated glycoproteins
  • α-2-macroglobulin

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