title: The effect of viruses on the ability to present antigens via the major histocompatibility complex.
abstract: We describe viral pathogens that cause significant human disease by their ability to interfere with the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I and II molecules. Herpesviruses and papillomaviruses encode gene products that interfere with the class I pathway of antigen processing and/or peptide translocation. Adenoviruses encode unique gene products that interfere with transport of class I molecules. Influenza virus, measles virus, and HIV interfere with the class II pathway by either suppressing the production of class II molecules or impeding antigen trafficking. Cytomegalovirus interferes with both class I and class II pathways. Better understanding of these mechanisms may lead to further insight into the pathogenesis of viral infections and allow for improved treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA.
authors.forename: V B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Sperber
mesh_terms: D017951:Antigen Presentation; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D014774:Virulence; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D014780:Viruses / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II