Viruses 2012, 4(8), 1335-1353; doi:10.3390/v4081335
Review

Herpesviruses Placating the Unwilling Host: Manipulation of the MHC Class II Antigen Presentation Pathway

Jianmin Zuo* email and Martin Roweemail
Cancer Research UK Birmingham Cancer Centre, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 13 July 2012; in revised form: 14 August 2012 / Accepted: 15 August 2012 / Published: 22 August 2012
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immune Evasion)
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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.
Keywords: herpes viruses; MHC class II; CD4 T cell; immune evasion

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Zuo, J.; Rowe, M. Herpesviruses Placating the Unwilling Host: Manipulation of the MHC Class II Antigen Presentation Pathway. Viruses 2012, 4, 1335-1353.

AMA Style

Zuo J, Rowe M. Herpesviruses Placating the Unwilling Host: Manipulation of the MHC Class II Antigen Presentation Pathway. Viruses. 2012; 4(8):1335-1353.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zuo, Jianmin; Rowe, Martin. 2012. "Herpesviruses Placating the Unwilling Host: Manipulation of the MHC Class II Antigen Presentation Pathway." Viruses 4, no. 8: 1335-1353.

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