title: The MHC-II transactivator CIITA, a restriction factor against oncogenic HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 retroviruses: similarities and differences in the inhibition of Tax-1 and Tax-2 viral transactivators.
abstract: The activation of CD4(+) T helper cells is strictly dependent on the presentation of antigenic peptides by MHC class II (MHC-II) molecules. MHC-II expression is primarily regulated at the transcriptional level by the AIR-1 gene product CIITA (class II transactivator). Thus, CIITA plays a pivotal role in the triggering of the adaptive immune response against pathogens. Besides this well known function, we recently found that CIITA acts as an endogenous restriction factor against HTLV-1 (human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1) and HTLV-2 oncogenic retroviruses by targeting their viral transactivators Tax-1 and Tax-2, respectively. Here we review our findings on CIITA-mediated inhibition of viral replication and discuss similarities and differences in the molecular mechanisms by which CIITA specifically counteracts the function of Tax-1 and Tax-2 molecules. The dual function of CIITA as a key regulator of adaptive and intrinsic immunity represents a rather unique example of adaptation of host-derived factors against pathogen infections during evolution.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of General Pathology and Immunology, Department of Surgical and Morphological Sciences, University of Insubria Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Greta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forlani
authors.forename: Rawan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abdallah
authors.forename: Roberto S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Accolla
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tosi
keywords: CIITA; HTLV-1 Tax-1; HTLV-2 Tax-2; restriction factors; viral replication