Stage-Specific Inhibition of MHC Class I Presentation by the Epstein-Barr Virus BNLF2a Protein during Virus Lytic Cycle

gamma-herpesvirus Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) persists for life in infected individuals despite the presence of a strong immune response. During the lytic cycle of EBV many viral proteins are expressed, potentially allowing virally infected cells to be recognized and eliminated by CD8+ T cells. We have recently identified an immune evasion protein encoded by EBV, BNLF2a, which is expressed in early phase lytic replication and inhibits peptide- and ATP-binding functions of the transporter associated with antigen processing. Ectopic expression of BNLF2a causes decreased surface MHC class I expression and inhibits the presentation of indicator antigens to CD8+ T cells. Here we sought to examine the influence of BNLF2a when expressed naturally during EBV lytic replication. We generated a BNLF2a-deleted recombinant EBV (ΔBNLF2a) and compared the ability of ΔBNLF2a and wild-type EBV-transformed B cell lines to be recognized by CD8+ T cell clones specific for EBV-encoded immediate early, early and late lytic antigens. Epitopes derived from immediate early and early expressed proteins were better recognized when presented by ΔBNLF2a transformed cells compared to wild-type virus transformants. However, recognition of late antigens by CD8+ T cells remained equally poor when presented by both wild-type and ΔBNLF2a cell targets. Analysis of BNLF2a and target protein expression kinetics showed that although BNLF2a is expressed during early phase replication, it is expressed at a time when there is an upregulation of immediate early proteins and initiation of early protein synthesis. Interestingly, BNLF2a protein expression was found to be lost by late lytic cycle yet ΔBNLF2a-transformed cells in late stage replication downregulated surface MHC class I to a similar extent as wild-type EBV-transformed cells. These data show that BNLF2a-mediated expression is stage-specific, affecting presentation of immediate early and early proteins, and that other evasion mechanisms operate later in the lytic cycle

Epstein-Barr virus and its interaction with the host

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) as a member of the herpesvirus family persists lifelong in the human body and causes diseases associated with virus replication (infectious mononucleosis, oral hairy leukoplakia) as well as neoplastic conditions such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma, B-cell lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease associated with viral latency. This complex biology relates to a highly regulated control of the persisting virus. Still, EBV is lytically produced in certain compartments of the human body. Epithelial cells were found to be of key importance for this. Various routes (cell fusion, IgA receptor-mediated uptake) were described for EBV to enter epithelial cells in the absence of CR2 receptor. Viral entry into cells, however, via CR2 receptor fusion or IgA mediated was not found to be sufficient for viral production. The molecular mechanisms for the lack of viral production in most target cells are primarily the presence of silencer activities and the early elimination of cells entering the lytic cycle. Only terminally differentiated epithelial cells are capable of supporting an efficient lytic cycle of EBV replication. EBV-mediated suppression of apoptosis as well as down-regulation of cellular and viral gene products, such as HLA molecules, which mediate recognition by the immune system, are important contributing factors to the development of these neoplasias where viral genes, possibly via interaction with anti-oncogenes, such as p53, in context with genetic and environmental factors play a key role. Novel diagnostic tools and a vaccine have been developed which could help to control EBV-related diseases

The Epstein-Barr virus-encoded glycoprotein gp 110 (BALF 4) can serve as a target for antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC)

Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) is thought to play a major role in controlling the spread of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in an infected individual. Recently, the viral membrane protein gp 350/220, which is also expressed at the surface of the virus producing cell, was identified as a target for ADCC reactions. Due to its glycoprotein nature, the EBV protein gp 110 is another possible ADCC target. It is one of the most abundant proteins found during the late phase of viral replication; until now, however, researchers have not been able to localize it on the surface of EBV positive cells. By means of recombinant vaccinia viruses containing the genes for gp 350/220 and gp 110, respectively, we expressed these proteins in lymphoblastoid cells, which were then used as targets in ADCC studies with sera from EBV-positive and -negative individuals. In these experiments we were able to demonstrate the feasibility of our approach for the investigation of EBV-specific ADCC reactions and could confirm the role of gp 350/220 as an ADCC target. Furthermore, we were able to show that gp 110 can also be recognized in an ADCC reaction, proving that at least some gp 110 molecules must be expressed at the cell surface

Different activation of Epstein-Barr virus immediate-early and early genes in Burkitt lymphoma cells and lymphoblastoid cell lines.

Specific expression of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) immediate-early and early gene products Zta, Rta, I'ta, and MSta by a recombinant vaccinia virus system allowed us to analyze the first steps in the induction of the lytic cycle in EBV-infected Burkitt lymphoma (BL) cells and lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). Significant differences in the induction of early genes were found between these cell types: whereas in BL cells the trans activator Zta was found to induce key steps of the early lytic cycle, only minor activities of Zta were noted in LCLs. Contrary to Zta, the trans activator Rta was found to be highly effective in LCLs. These observations suggest that Rta may play an important role in the activation of the early lytic cycle in LCLs, although it cannot be activated by Zta. The latter may be a reason for the lower tendency of LCLs to switch into the lytic cycle compared with BL cells or differentiated epithelial cells