Protective effect of rhinovirus receptor blocking antibody in human fibroblast cells.

Infection of HeLa cells by human rhinoviruses (RV) of the major receptor group is inhibited by a HeLa-derived rhinovirus receptor murine monoclonal antibody (RRMA). In yield reduction studies in human embryonic lung fibroblast cells, pretreatment with 1.0 or 10 micrograms/ml of RRMA partially protected (greater than 90% titer reduction) against infection by RV 39 or coxsackie A21 (members of the major receptor family), but not by RV 1A (member of the minor receptor family). The protection afforded by RRMA persisted at least 72 h after a 2-h exposure. These results suggest that RV receptors can be effectively blocked for prolonged periods in cultured fibroblast cells.