Role of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in Epstein-Barr virus-associated diseases.
Adaptation of persistent infection within the cells of the immune system is a unique characteristic of gamma herpes viruses. A classic example of this is Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which may have co-evolved with Homo sapiens over millions of years, thus achieving a balance between viral persistence and immune control. In this review, we present an overview of virus and the host immune system interactions that regulate the life-long host-virus relationship in healthy virus carriers and EBV-associated diseases. Extensive analysis of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated immune responses in healthy virus carriers has revealed unique mechanisms used by EBV to maintain a benign persistent state in vivo. On the other hand, this relationship in EBV-associated diseases favors the escape of the virus from the hostile effects of the immune response. This escape is achieved by either down-regulating the expression of highly immunogenic antigens of the virus or by direct modulation of the host cytotoxic T lymphocyte response by virus-encoded proteins.
Khanna
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R
Tumor Immunology Laboratory, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, University of Queensland, Bancroft Centre, Brisbane, Australia. rajivK@qimr.edu.a
Burrows
S R
SR
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D002353:Carrier State; D000939:Epitopes; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D017735:Virus Latency
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes