Stage-specific inhibition of MHC class I presentation by the Epstein-Barr virus BNLF2a protein during virus lytic cycle.

The gamma-herpesvirus Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) persists for life in infected individuals despite the presence of a strong immune response. During the lytic cycle of EBV many viral proteins are expressed, potentially allowing virally infected cells to be recognized and eliminated by CD8+ T cells. We...

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Main Authors: Nathan P Croft, Claire Shannon-Lowe, Andrew I Bell, Daniëlle Horst, Elisabeth Kremmer, Maaike E Ressing, Emmanuel J H J Wiertz, Jaap M Middeldorp, Martin Rowe, Alan B Rickinson, Andrew D Hislop
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2009-06-01
Series:PLoS Pathogens
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1000490&type=printable
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author Nathan P Croft
Claire Shannon-Lowe
Andrew I Bell
Daniëlle Horst
Elisabeth Kremmer
Maaike E Ressing
Emmanuel J H J Wiertz
Jaap M Middeldorp
Martin Rowe
Alan B Rickinson
Andrew D Hislop
author_facet Nathan P Croft
Claire Shannon-Lowe
Andrew I Bell
Daniëlle Horst
Elisabeth Kremmer
Maaike E Ressing
Emmanuel J H J Wiertz
Jaap M Middeldorp
Martin Rowe
Alan B Rickinson
Andrew D Hislop
author_sort Nathan P Croft
collection DOAJ
description The gamma-herpesvirus Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) persists for life in infected individuals despite the presence of a strong immune response. During the lytic cycle of EBV many viral proteins are expressed, potentially allowing virally infected cells to be recognized and eliminated by CD8+ T cells. We have recently identified an immune evasion protein encoded by EBV, BNLF2a, which is expressed in early phase lytic replication and inhibits peptide- and ATP-binding functions of the transporter associated with antigen processing. Ectopic expression of BNLF2a causes decreased surface MHC class I expression and inhibits the presentation of indicator antigens to CD8+ T cells. Here we sought to examine the influence of BNLF2a when expressed naturally during EBV lytic replication. We generated a BNLF2a-deleted recombinant EBV (DeltaBNLF2a) and compared the ability of DeltaBNLF2a and wild-type EBV-transformed B cell lines to be recognized by CD8+ T cell clones specific for EBV-encoded immediate early, early and late lytic antigens. Epitopes derived from immediate early and early expressed proteins were better recognized when presented by DeltaBNLF2a transformed cells compared to wild-type virus transformants. However, recognition of late antigens by CD8+ T cells remained equally poor when presented by both wild-type and DeltaBNLF2a cell targets. Analysis of BNLF2a and target protein expression kinetics showed that although BNLF2a is expressed during early phase replication, it is expressed at a time when there is an upregulation of immediate early proteins and initiation of early protein synthesis. Interestingly, BNLF2a protein expression was found to be lost by late lytic cycle yet DeltaBNLF2a-transformed cells in late stage replication downregulated surface MHC class I to a similar extent as wild-type EBV-transformed cells. These data show that BNLF2a-mediated expression is stage-specific, affecting presentation of immediate early and early proteins, and that other evasion mechanisms operate later in the lytic cycle.
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spelling doaj-art-c384c3b6f49e4ddeacc05e99f94573fa2025-08-20T02:00:50ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Pathogens1553-73661553-73742009-06-0156e100049010.1371/journal.ppat.1000490Stage-specific inhibition of MHC class I presentation by the Epstein-Barr virus BNLF2a protein during virus lytic cycle.Nathan P CroftClaire Shannon-LoweAndrew I BellDaniëlle HorstElisabeth KremmerMaaike E RessingEmmanuel J H J WiertzJaap M MiddeldorpMartin RoweAlan B RickinsonAndrew D HislopThe gamma-herpesvirus Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) persists for life in infected individuals despite the presence of a strong immune response. During the lytic cycle of EBV many viral proteins are expressed, potentially allowing virally infected cells to be recognized and eliminated by CD8+ T cells. We have recently identified an immune evasion protein encoded by EBV, BNLF2a, which is expressed in early phase lytic replication and inhibits peptide- and ATP-binding functions of the transporter associated with antigen processing. Ectopic expression of BNLF2a causes decreased surface MHC class I expression and inhibits the presentation of indicator antigens to CD8+ T cells. Here we sought to examine the influence of BNLF2a when expressed naturally during EBV lytic replication. We generated a BNLF2a-deleted recombinant EBV (DeltaBNLF2a) and compared the ability of DeltaBNLF2a and wild-type EBV-transformed B cell lines to be recognized by CD8+ T cell clones specific for EBV-encoded immediate early, early and late lytic antigens. Epitopes derived from immediate early and early expressed proteins were better recognized when presented by DeltaBNLF2a transformed cells compared to wild-type virus transformants. However, recognition of late antigens by CD8+ T cells remained equally poor when presented by both wild-type and DeltaBNLF2a cell targets. Analysis of BNLF2a and target protein expression kinetics showed that although BNLF2a is expressed during early phase replication, it is expressed at a time when there is an upregulation of immediate early proteins and initiation of early protein synthesis. Interestingly, BNLF2a protein expression was found to be lost by late lytic cycle yet DeltaBNLF2a-transformed cells in late stage replication downregulated surface MHC class I to a similar extent as wild-type EBV-transformed cells. These data show that BNLF2a-mediated expression is stage-specific, affecting presentation of immediate early and early proteins, and that other evasion mechanisms operate later in the lytic cycle.https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1000490&type=printable
spellingShingle Nathan P Croft
Claire Shannon-Lowe
Andrew I Bell
Daniëlle Horst
Elisabeth Kremmer
Maaike E Ressing
Emmanuel J H J Wiertz
Jaap M Middeldorp
Martin Rowe
Alan B Rickinson
Andrew D Hislop
Stage-specific inhibition of MHC class I presentation by the Epstein-Barr virus BNLF2a protein during virus lytic cycle.
PLoS Pathogens
title Stage-specific inhibition of MHC class I presentation by the Epstein-Barr virus BNLF2a protein during virus lytic cycle.
title_full Stage-specific inhibition of MHC class I presentation by the Epstein-Barr virus BNLF2a protein during virus lytic cycle.
title_fullStr Stage-specific inhibition of MHC class I presentation by the Epstein-Barr virus BNLF2a protein during virus lytic cycle.
title_full_unstemmed Stage-specific inhibition of MHC class I presentation by the Epstein-Barr virus BNLF2a protein during virus lytic cycle.
title_short Stage-specific inhibition of MHC class I presentation by the Epstein-Barr virus BNLF2a protein during virus lytic cycle.
title_sort stage specific inhibition of mhc class i presentation by the epstein barr virus bnlf2a protein during virus lytic cycle
url https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1000490&type=printable
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