title: Herpes simplex virus blocks intracellular transport of HLA-G in placentally derived human cells.
abstract: Spontaneous fetal loss is associated with herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection as deduced from epidemiologic data. To date, the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated, but an immune component is suspected. HLA-G is a class I MHC molecule selectively expressed on extravillous cytotrophoblast; this cell type does not express conventional HLA-A or -B, whereas expression of novel HLA-C-like products has been reported. While its function remains unclear, a role for HLA-G in silencing NK cells that would otherwise attack cells devoid of classical class I molecules has been invoked. We here show that expression of HLA class I molecules is abrogated in HSV-infected choriocarcinoma cells, a phenomenon mediated by the virally encoded inhibitor of the transporter associated with Ag presentation, ICP47. These observations may provide a link between HSV infection and spontaneous fetal loss.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cancer Research, Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 02139, USA.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Schust
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Ploegh
mesh_terms: D000071181:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2; D000071450:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 3; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000378:metabolism; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000150:complications; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000071181:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2; D000071450:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 3; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D006680:HLA Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; C073119:TAP1 protein, human; C071692:TAP2 protein, human