Down-regulation of human leukocyte antigen class I and II and beta 2-microglobulin expression in human herpesvirus-7-infected cells
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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Dissecting Innate Immune Signaling in Viral Evasion of Cytokine Production
Published on: March 2, 2014
Prisco Mirandola1, Ivonne Sponzilli, Elvira Solenghi
1Human Anatomy Section, Department of Anatomy, Pharmacology, and Forensic Medicine, University of Parma, Ospedale Maggiore, Parma, Italy.
Abstract:
Human herpesvirus (HHV)-7 is a ubiquitous virus that infects >90% of adults. We show that HHV-7 impairs beta2-microglobulin and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and II expression in lymphoid cells in vitro. Accordingly, infected cells were more sensitive to peripheral blood natural cytotoxic activity than were uninfected cells. Analysis of beta2-microglobulin and HLA expression in biopsy specimens from human submandibular glands confirmed the ability of HHV-7 to modulate the expression of these antigens in vivo. We demonstrate that the down-modulation of HLA by HHV-7 is linked to viral replication and is not merely a consequence of the interaction of virions with the cell surface. Infected cells can therefore efficiently escape host immune pressure, which might explain the persistence of HHV-7-positive cells in several kinds of tumors and chronic infectious diseases.
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