title: Herpesviruses placating the unwilling host: manipulation of the MHC class II antigen presentation pathway.
abstract: Lifelong persistent infection by herpesviruses depends on the balance between host immune responses and viral immune evasion. CD4 T cells responding to antigens presented on major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) molecules are known to play an important role in controlling herpesvirus infections. Here we review, with emphasis on human herpesvirus infections, the strategies evolved to evade CD4 T cell immunity. These viruses target multiple points on the MHC class II antigen presentation pathway. The mechanisms include: suppression of CIITA to inhibit the synthesis of MHC class II molecules, diversion or degradation of HLA-DR molecules during membrane transport, and direct targeting of the invariant chain chaperone of HLA-DR.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Birmingham Cancer Centre, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. j.zuo@bham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Jianmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rowe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D057131:Immune Evasion
chemical_list: D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II