Immune evasion mechanisms of varicella-zoster virus.
Varicella-zoster virus can to modulate the expression of class I and class II major histocompatibility (MHC) molecules. MHC class I expression is downregulated in VZV-infected T cells as well as in fibroblasts. VZV-infected cells do not respond to exposure to interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) by upregulation of MHC class II expression. However, MHC class II expression is induced when cells are treated with IFN-gamma before VZV infection. These effects on MHC class I and class II expression can be expected to interfere transiently with adaptive immune responses of the host, mediated by CD4 and CD8 T cells, ensuring that the virus has sufficient opportunity for transmission to susceptible contracts.
Abendroth
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Stanford University School of Medicine, California 94305, USA.
Arvin
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D000818:Animals; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology*
D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007371:Interferon-gamma