title: Human cytomegalovirus harbors its own unique IL-10 homolog (cmvIL-10).
abstract: We identified a viral IL-10 homolog encoded by an ORF (UL111a) within the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) genome, which we designated cmvIL-10. cmvIL-10 can bind to the human IL-10 receptor and can compete with human IL-10 for binding sites, despite the fact that these two proteins are only 27% identical. cmvIL-10 requires both subunits of the IL-10 receptor complex to induce signal transduction events and biological activities. The structure of the cmvIL-10 gene is unique by itself. The gene retained two of four introns of the IL-10 gene, but the length of the introns was reduced. We demonstrated that cmvIL-10 is expressed in CMV-infected cells. Thus, expression of cmvIL-10 extends the range of counter measures developed by CMV to circumvent detection and destruction by the host immune system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854-5635, USA. kotenkse@umdnj.edu
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Kotenko
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saccani
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Izotova
authors.forename: O V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Mirochnitchenko
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pestka
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005814:Genes, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D007962:Leukocytes; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011485:Protein Binding; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000378:metabolism; D053701:Receptors, Interleukin-10; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006133:Growth Substances; C405505:IL-10 like protein, Human herpesvirus 5; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D053701:Receptors, Interleukin-10; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494086:STAT3 protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014764:Viral Proteins; D016753:Interleukin-10