Viruses (May 2022)

HSV-1 Infection of Epithelial Dendritic Cells Is a Critical Strategy for Interfering with Antiviral Immunity

  • Yang Gao,
  • Jishuai Cheng,
  • Xingli Xu,
  • Xueqi Li,
  • Jingjing Zhang,
  • Danjing Ma,
  • Guorun Jiang,
  • Yun Liao,
  • Shengtao Fan,
  • Zhenye Niu,
  • Rong Yue,
  • Penglan Chang,
  • Fengyuan Zeng,
  • Suqin Duan,
  • Ziyan Meng,
  • Xiangxiong Xu,
  • Xinghang Li,
  • Dandan Li,
  • Li Yu,
  • Lifen Ping,
  • Heng Zhao,
  • Mingtian Guo,
  • Lichun Wang,
  • Yafang Wang,
  • Ying Zhang,
  • Qihan Li

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/v14051046
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 5
p. 1046

Abstract

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Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), an α subgroup member of the human herpesvirus family, infects cells via the binding of its various envelope glycoproteins to cellular membrane receptors, one of which is herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM), expressed on dendritic cells. Here, HVEM gene-deficient mice were used to investigate the immunologic effect elicited by the HSV-1 infection of dendritic cells. Dendritic cells expressing the surface marker CD11c showed an abnormal biological phenotype, including the altered transcription of various immune signaling molecules and inflammatory factors associated with innate immunity after viral replication. Furthermore, the viral infection of dendritic cells interfered with dendritic cell function in the lymph nodes, where these cells normally play roles in activating the T-cell response. Additionally, the mild clinicopathological manifestations observed during the acute phase of HSV-1 infection were associated with viral replication in dendritic cells.

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