Varicella Zoster Virus Impairs Expression of the Nonclassical Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I-Related Gene Protein (MR1).

ABSTRACT: The antigen presentation molecule MR1 (major histocompatibility complex, class I-related) presents ligands derived from the riboflavin (vitamin B) synthesis pathway, which is not present in mammalian species or viruses, to mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells. In this study, we demonstrate that varicella zoster virus (VZV) profoundly suppresses MR1 expression. We show that VZV targets the intracellular reservoir of immature MR1 for degradation, while preexisting, ligand-bound cell surface MR1 is protected from such targeting, thereby highlighting an intricate temporal relationship between infection and ligand availability. We also identify VZV open reading frame (ORF) 66 as functioning to suppress MR1 expression when this viral protein is expressed during transient transfection, but

SUBMITTER: Purohit SK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9891426 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature