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08:52
Generation of Multivirus-specific T Cells to Prevent/treat Viral Infections after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant
Published on: May 27, 2011
Immune response to MMTV infection
Hans Acha-Orbea1, Alexander N Shakhov, Daniela Finke
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Ch. des Boveresses 155, CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland. hans.acha-orbea@unil.ch
Frontiers in Bioscience : a Journal and Virtual Library
|November 28, 2006
Summary
Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) exploits the immune system by infecting immune cells, enabling chronic infection and transmission. This viral strategy leads to mammary gland cancer by altering gene expression.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Oncology
Background:
- Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) employs immune cells for infection and transmission.
- MMTV establishes chronic infections by targeting dendritic cells and B cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review MMTV's strategy of immune system exploitation.
- To contextualize MMTV's effects within normal immune responses.
- To summarize key aspects of MMTV biology.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on MMTV infection and immune interactions.
- Analysis of MMTV's superantigen-mediated immune cell activation.
- Examination of MMTV's role in mammary gland epithelial transformation.
Main Results:
- MMTV infects dendritic cells and B cells, leading to superantigen expression.
- Viral superantigens induce T cell and B cell collaboration, forming germinal centers and long-lived B cells.
- MMTV integration near proto-oncogenes, particularly Wnt-pathway genes, promotes mammary gland tumor formation.
Conclusions:
- MMTV has evolved a sophisticated mechanism to hijack normal immune processes for its lifecycle.
- The virus utilizes immune cells to establish persistent infection and facilitate transmission.
- MMTV contributes to mammary carcinogenesis through insertional mutagenesis affecting critical host genes.
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