title: Immunoglobulin superfamily members encoded by viruses and their multiple roles in immune evasion.
abstract: Pathogens have developed a plethora of strategies to undermine host immune defenses in order to guarantee their survival. For large DNA viruses, these immune evasion mechanisms frequently rely on the expression of genes acquired from host genomes. Horizontally transferred genes include members of the immunoglobulin superfamily, whose products constitute the most diverse group of proteins of vertebrate genomes. Their promiscuous immunoglobulin domains, which comprise the building blocks of these molecules, are involved in a large variety of functions mediated by ligand-binding interactions. The flexible structural nature of the immunoglobulin domains makes them appealing targets for viral capture due to their capacity to generate high functional diversity. Here, we present an up-to-date review of immunoglobulin superfamily gene homologs encoded by herpesviruses, poxviruses, and adenoviruses, that include CD200, CD47, Fc receptors, interleukin-1 receptor 2, interleukin-18 binding protein, CD80, carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecules, and signaling lymphocyte activation molecules. We discuss their distinct structural attributes, binding properties, and functions, shaped by evolutionary pressures to disarm specific immune pathways. We include several novel genes identified from extensive genome database surveys. An understanding of the properties and modes of action of these viral proteins may guide the development of novel immune-modulatory therapeutic tools.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Domènec
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Farré
authors.affiliation: Immunology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martínez-Vicente
authors.affiliation: Immunology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.|Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.affiliation: Immunology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.|Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5792-1164
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Angulo
mesh_terms: D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D057131:Immune Evasion; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C118370:interleukin-18 binding protein; C042739:antigens, CD200
keywords: Horizontal gene transfer; Immune evasion; Immunoglobulin superfamily; Large DNA viruses; Viral evolution