Early interaction between mouse hepatitis virus 3 and cells.

The interaction between mouse hepatitis virus 3 (MHV3) and cells was studied in order to investigate whether or not early events occurring after infection could be involved in the difference in virus replication seen between mouse strains with different genetic sensitivities to MHV3 infection. Kinetic data showed that MHV3 uptake by both macrophages and L cells was time- and temperature-dependent. In addition, treatment of cells with cytochalasin B or prostaglandin E1, prior to virus infection, resulted in a strong inhibition of sheep red blood cell phagocytosis without any effect on MHV3 uptake. Similar uptake of radiolabelled MHV3 was shown by whole spleen cells, purified T lymphocytes and thymocytes. Furthermore, no difference in 3H-labelled MHV3 uptake was seen between macrophages originating from resistant A/J mice, semi-susceptible (C57Bl/6 x A/J)F1 and susceptible animals. These results indicate, therefore, that genetically related in vivo sensitivity toward MHV3 infection is not related to differential uptake of virus by cells.