# The Role of FcRn in Echovirus Entry and Pathogenesis

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2021 · $438,653

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT:
The overarching goal of this application is to identify the role of the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) in echovirus
entry and pathogenesis. We recently identified FcRn as a pan-echovirus receptor. We showed that gene editing
of FcRn resulted in reduced echovirus infection of cells, and reciprocally, ectopic expression promoted infection
in non-permissive cells. We also found that FcRn bound directly to echoviral particles and enhanced virus
attachment to cells. Consistent with these findings, recombinant FcRn protein or monoclonal antibodies to FcRn
blocked echovirus infection in multiple cell types. Finally, expression of the human homologue of FcRn rendered
neonatal mice permissive to E11 infection by the enteral route and showed that expression of the human, but
not mouse, homologue of FcRn restored echovirus infection in non-permissive cell types. However, the precise
role of FcRn in echovirus entry and a full analysis of the impact of FcRn on echovirus pathogenesis was not
explored. The studies proposed in this application will provide important insights into (1) the role of FcRn in
echovirus entry and trafficking in the intestinal epithelium, (2) the role of FcRn in the cell-type specific nature of
echovirus infections in the liver, and (3) the role of FcRn in echovirus pathogenesis. Our proposal pioneers
research into a variety of aspects of the molecular mechanisms of echovirus infections. Importantly, our
development of primary human and mouse stem cell-derived models of the intestinal epithelium, in vitro primary
cell-based liver models, and novel in vivo models of echovirus pathogenesis are highly innovative technical
advances that will allow us to directly assess the mechanistic basis for a number of aspects of echovirus entry
and pathogenesis in physiologically-relevant models. Given our extensive expertise in enterovirus research, we
are uniquely positioned to perform these studies, which will provide new paradigms for our understanding of
echovirus infections.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10078260
- **Project number:** 5R01AI150151-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Carolyn B Coyne
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $438,653
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-01-01 → 2021-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10078260

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10078260, The Role of FcRn in Echovirus Entry and Pathogenesis (5R01AI150151-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10078260. Licensed CC0.

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