Feline herpesvirus‐1 down‐regulates MHC class I expression in an homologous cell system |
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| Authors: | S Montagnaro M Longo M Pacilio P Indovina A Roberti L De Martino G Iovane U Pagnini |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Pathology and animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Delpino n°1, 80137 Naples, Italy;2. Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy;3. CROM—Center of Oncology Research Mercogliano, Avellino, Italy;4. Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia Pennsylvania;5. Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici, Naples, Italy |
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| Abstract: | Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are an essential component of the immune defense against many virus infections. CTLs recognize viral peptides in the context of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules on the surface of infected cells. Many viruses have evolved mechanisms to interfere with MHC class I expression as a means of evading the host immune response. In the present research we have studied the effect of in vitro Feline Herpesvirus 1 (FeHV‐1) infection on MHC class I expression. The results of this study demonstrate that FeHV‐1 down regulates surface expression of MHC class I molecules on infected cells, presumably to evade cytotoxic T‐cell recognition and, perhaps, attenuate induction of immunity. Sensitivity to UV irradiation and insensitivity to a viral DNA synthesis inhibitor, like phosphonacetic acid, revealed that immediate early or early viral gene(s) are responsible. Use of the protein translation inhibitor cycloheximide confirmed that an early gene is primarily responsible. J. Cell. Biochem. 106: 179–185, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. |
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| Keywords: | FeHV‐1 MHC class I molecules downregulation |
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