Equine herpesvirus type 4 UL56 and UL49.5 proteins downregulate cell surface major histocompatibility complex class I expression independently of each other

J Virol. 2012 Aug;86(15):8059-71. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00891-12. Epub 2012 May 23.

Abstract

Major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules are critically important in the host defense against various pathogens through presentation of viral peptides to cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), a process resulting in the destruction of virus-infected cells. Herpesviruses interfere with CTL-mediated elimination of infected cells by various mechanisms, including inhibition of peptide transport and loading, perturbation of MHC-I trafficking, and rerouting and proteolysis of cell surface MHC-I. In this study, we show that equine herpesvirus type 4 (EHV-4) modulates MHC-I cell surface expression through two different mechanisms. First, EHV-4 can lead to a significant downregulation of MHC-I expression at the cell surface through the product of ORF1, a protein expressed with early kinetics from a gene that is homologous to herpes simplex virus 1 UL56. The EHV-4 UL56 protein reduces cell surface MHC-I as early as 4 h after infection. Second, EHV-4 can interfere with MHC-I antigen presentation, starting at 6 h after infection, by inhibition of the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) through its UL49.5 protein. Although pUL49.5 has no immediate effect on overall surface MHC-I levels in infected cells, it blocks the supply of antigenic peptides to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and transport of peptide-loaded MHC-I to the cell surface. Taken together, our results show that EHV-4 encodes at least two viral immune evasion proteins: pUL56 reduces MHC-I molecules on the cell surface at early times after infection, and pUL49.5 interferes with MHC-I antigen presentation by blocking peptide transport in the ER.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation / genetics
  • Antigen Presentation / immunology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Dogs
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Down-Regulation / immunology*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Herpesviridae Infections / genetics
  • Herpesviridae Infections / immunology*
  • Herpesviridae Infections / metabolism
  • Herpesvirus 4, Equid / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 4, Equid / immunology*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Equid / metabolism
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / biosynthesis
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / genetics
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology*
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Protein Transport / genetics
  • Protein Transport / immunology
  • Vero Cells
  • Viral Structural Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Structural Proteins / immunology*
  • Viral Structural Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Viral Structural Proteins