Presentation of CMV immediate-early antigen to cytolytic T lymphocytes is selectively prevented by viral genes expressed in the early phase.
The regulation of antigen processing and presentation to MHC class I-restricted cytolytic T lymphocytes was studied in cells infected with murine cytomegalovirus. Recognition by cytolytic T lymphocytes of the phosphoprotein pp89, the immunodominant viral antigen expressed in the immediate-early phase of infection, was selectively prevented during the subsequent expression of viral early genes. The surface expression of MHC class I glycoproteins and their capacity to present externally added pp89-derived antigenic peptides were not affected. Because recognition of several other antigens occurred during the early phase, a general failure in processing and presentation was excluded. Since neither rate of synthesis, amount, stability, nor nuclear transport of pp89 was modified, the failure in recognition indicates a selective interference with pp89 antigen processing and presentation.
Del Val
M
M
Department of Virology University of Ulm, Federal Republic of Germany.
Münch
K
K
Reddehase
M J
MJ
Koszinowski
U H
UH
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005814:Genes, Viral; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C052612:cytomegalovirus immediate early phosphoprotein pp89; C044582:immediate-early proteins, cytomegalovirus