Convergent Evolution of HLA-C Downmodulation in HIV-1 and HIV-2.

ABSTRACT: HLA-C-mediated antigen presentation induces the killing of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected CD4⁺ T cells by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). To evade killing, many HIV-1 group M strains decrease HLA-C surface levels using their accessory protein Vpu. However, some HIV-1 group M isolates lack this activity, possibly to prevent the activation of natural killer (NK) cells. Analyzing diverse primate lentiviruses, we found that Vpu-mediated HLA-C downregulation is not limited to pandemic group M but is also found in HIV-1 groups O and P as well as several simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs). We show that Vpu targets HLA-C primarily at the protein level, independently of its ability to suppress NF-κB-driven gene expression, and that in some viral lineages, HLA-C downregul

SUBMITTER: Hopfensperger K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7360927 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature