iScience (Feb 2024)

Multi-targeted loss of the antigen presentation molecule MR1 during HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection

  • Carolyn Samer,
  • Hamish E.G. McWilliam,
  • Brian P. McSharry,
  • Thilaga Velusamy,
  • James G. Burchfield,
  • Richard J. Stanton,
  • David C. Tscharke,
  • Jamie Rossjohn,
  • Jose A. Villadangos,
  • Allison Abendroth,
  • Barry Slobedman

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 27, no. 2
p. 108801

Abstract

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Summary: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC), Class-I-related (MR1) molecule presents microbiome-synthesized metabolites to Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, present at sites of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection. During HSV type 1 (HSV-1) infection there is a profound and rapid loss of MR1, in part due to expression of unique short 3 protein. Here we show that virion host shutoff RNase protein downregulates MR1 protein, through loss of MR1 transcripts. Furthermore, a third viral protein, infected cell protein 22, also downregulates MR1, but not classical MHC-I molecules. This occurs early in the MR1 trafficking pathway through proteasomal degradation. Finally, HSV-2 infection results in the loss of MR1 transcripts, and intracellular and surface MR1 protein, comparable to that seen during HSV-1 infection. Thus HSV coordinates a multifaceted attack on the MR1 antigen presentation pathway, potentially protecting infected cells from MAIT cell T cell receptor-mediated detection at sites of primary infection and reactivation.

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