The majority of adenovirus serotypes utilize the coxsackievirus-adenovirus receptor (CAR) for virus-host cell attachment, but subgroup B and subgroup D (adenovirus type 37 [Ad37]) viruses recognize CD46. CD46 is a ubiquitously expressed receptor that serves as a cofactor for the inactivation of the complement components C3b and C4b, and it also serves as a receptor for diverse microbial pathogens. A reported consequence of CD46 engagement is a reduced capability of human immune cells to express interleukin-12 (IL-12), a cytokine involved in both the innate and adaptive immune responses. Studies were thus undertaken to determine whether CD46-utilizing Ads alter the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Subgroup B (Ad16 and -35) and Ad37, but not Ad2 or -5, significantly reduced IL-12 production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with gamma interferon (IFN-␥) and lipopolysaccharide. IL-12 mRNA (p35 and p40 subunits) levels as well as other cytokine mRNA levels (IL-1␣ and -, IL-1Ra, and IL-6) were decreased upon interaction with CD46-utilizing Ads. Analysis of transcription factor activity required for cytokine expression indicated that CD46-utilizing Ads preferentially inhibited IFN-␥-induced C/EBP protein expression, consequently reducing its ability to form DNA complexes. Interference with IFN-␥ signaling events by CD46-utilizing Ads, but not CAR-utilizing Ads, reveals a potentially critical difference in the host immune response against distinct Ad vectors, a situation that has implications for gene delivery and vaccine development.Accumulating knowledge has revealed that virus association with cell receptors may have important consequences beyond simple host cell recognition. For example, human adenovirus (Ad)-receptor interactions trigger multiple signaling pathways, some of which promote cell entry (32-34), while others may provoke acute inflammatory responses (8,18,36,41,(57)(58)(59). Many of the 51 known Ad serotypes classified into subgroups A to F cause acute upper respiratory tract, gastrointestinal, and ocular diseases. Cell tropism is a major factor that influences the pathological consequences of Ad infection. Ad cell entry is initiated by binding of the virus fiber protein to a specific host receptor and is followed by the association of the penton base capsid protein with ␣ v integrins leading to virus internalization (42). While most Ad serotypes use coxsackievirus-adenovirus receptor (CAR) as their primary attachment receptor (6, 60), subgroup B and at least one subgroup D virus use an alternative receptor, CD46 (13,52,55,64).CD46, also known as membrane cofactor protein, is a member of the family of complement regulatory proteins that bind the complement proteins C3b and C4b, serving as a cofactor for their inactivation by a serum protease (53). In addition to certain Ad serotypes, CD46 is a receptor for multiple microbial pathogens, including a gram-negative bacterium, Neisseria sp. (25), the Edmonston strain of measles virus (MV) (12, 40), and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6...