Virus-Induced Cell Fusion and Syncytia Formation. 2024

Maorong Xie
Division of Infection and Immunity, UCL, London, UK. maorong.xie@ucl.ac.uk.

Most enveloped viruses encode viral fusion proteins to penetrate host cell by membrane fusion. Interestingly, many enveloped viruses can also use viral fusion proteins to induce cell-cell fusion, both in vitro and in vivo, leading to the formation of syncytia or multinucleated giant cells (MGCs). In addition, some non-enveloped viruses encode specialized viral proteins that induce cell-cell fusion to facilitate viral spread. Overall, viruses that can induce cell-cell fusion are nearly ubiquitous in mammals. Virus cell-to-cell spread by inducing cell-cell fusion may overcome entry and post-entry blocks in target cells and allow evasion of neutralizing antibodies. However, molecular mechanisms of virus-induced cell-cell fusion remain largely unknown. Here, I summarize the current understanding of virus-induced cell fusion and syncytia formation.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008322 Mammals Warm-blooded vertebrate animals belonging to the class Mammalia, including all that possess hair and suckle their young. Mammalia,Mammal
D002459 Cell Fusion Fusion of somatic cells in vitro or in vivo, which results in somatic cell hybridization. Cell Fusions,Fusion, Cell,Fusions, Cell
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014760 Viral Fusion Proteins Proteins, usually glycoproteins, found in the viral envelopes of a variety of viruses. They promote cell membrane fusion and thereby may function in the uptake of the virus by cells. Fusion Proteins, Viral,Viral Fusion Glycoproteins,F Protein (Sendai Virus),F Protein Measles Virus,F Protein Newcastle Disease Virus,F Protein SV,F-Glycoprotein SV,F1 Polypeptide (Paramyxovirus),Fusion Glycoprotein, Viral,Fusion VP1 Protein,Glycoprotein, Viral Fusion,Measles Fusion Protein,Mumps Virus Fusion Protein,Paramyxovirus Fusion Protein,Sendai Virus Fusion Protein,Viral Fusion-GP,Virus Fusion Proteins,Fusion Glycoproteins, Viral,Fusion Protein, Measles,Fusion Protein, Paramyxovirus,Fusion Proteins, Virus,Fusion-GP, Viral,Glycoproteins, Viral Fusion,Proteins, Virus Fusion,VP1 Protein, Fusion,Viral Fusion GP,Viral Fusion Glycoprotein
D014780 Viruses Minute infectious agents whose genomes are composed of DNA or RNA, but not both. They are characterized by a lack of independent metabolism and the inability to replicate outside living host cells. Animal Viruses,Zoophaginae,Animal Virus,Virus,Virus, Animal,Viruses, Animal
D015726 Giant Cells Multinucleated masses produced by the fusion of many cells; often associated with viral infections. In AIDS, they are induced when the envelope glycoprotein of the HIV virus binds to the CD4 antigen of uninfected neighboring T4 cells. The resulting syncytium leads to cell death and thus may account for the cytopathic effect of the virus. Giant Cells, Multinucleated,Multinucleated Giant Cells,Polykaryocytes,Syncytium,Syncytia,Cell, Giant,Cell, Multinucleated Giant,Cells, Giant,Cells, Multinucleated Giant,Giant Cell,Giant Cell, Multinucleated,Multinucleated Giant Cell,Polykaryocyte
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