Inhibition by woodchuck hepatitis virus of class I major histocompatibility complex presentation on hepatocytes is mediated by virus envelope pre-S2 protein and can be reversed by treatment with gamma interferon.

ABSTRACT: Presentation of class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is severely down-regulated on hepatocytes in chronic hepatitis caused by woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV). To determine which of the viral proteins mediates class I MHC antigen suppression, cultured normal woodchuck hepatocytes were transfected with the complete WHV genome, sequences encoding individual virus proteins, or whole virus genomes in which transcription of selected proteins was disabled by site-specific mutagenesis. It was found that hepatocyte presentation of class I MHC antigen was significantly inhibited following transfection with complete WHV genome or with viral subgenomic fragments encoding envelope pre-S2 protein or pre-S1 protein, which naturally encompasses pre-S2 amino acid sequence. In contrast, hepatocyte

SUBMITTER: Wang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1563886 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature