Mouse cytomegalovirus encoded immunoevasins and evolution of Ly49 receptors - Sidekicks or enemies?

Immunol Lett. 2017 Sep:189:40-47. doi: 10.1016/j.imlet.2017.04.007. Epub 2017 Apr 13.

Abstract

Cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) have dedicated a large portion of their genome towards immune evasion targeting many aspects of the host immune system, particularly NK cells. However, the host managed to cope with the infection by developing multiple mechanisms to recognize viral threat and counterattack it, thus illustrating never-ending evolutionary interplay between CMV and its host. In this review, we will focus on several mechanisms of NK cell evasion by mouse CMV (MCMV), the role of host inhibitory and activating Ly49 receptors involved in the virus control and acquisition of adaptive features by NK cells as a consequence of MCMV infection.

Keywords: Cytomegalovirus; Immunoevasion; Ly49 receptors; MHC I; Missing-self; NK cells.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoantigens / immunology
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Herpesviridae Infections / immunology*
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / metabolism
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Humans
  • Immune Evasion
  • Mice
  • Muromegalovirus / immunology*
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily A / genetics
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily A / metabolism*

Substances

  • Autoantigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily A