Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Visualizing Antigen Specific CD4+ T Cells using MHC Class II Tetramers
15:42

Visualizing Antigen Specific CD4+ T Cells using MHC Class II Tetramers

Published on: March 6, 2009

[The expression and anti-apoptotic function of HCMV IE2 protein controlled by Tet-On system]

Zhi-qiang Bai1, Bin Wang, Zhi-jun Liu

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Medicine and Biotechnology of Qingdao, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao 266071, China. baizhiq@163.com

Bing Du Xue Bao = Chinese Journal of Virology
|July 29, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) IE2 protein inhibits TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis, with its anti-apoptotic activity correlating to expression levels. This effect may occur independently of p53 signaling pathways.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Virology
  • Cell Biology

Context:

  • Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a significant pathogen, with its IE2 protein playing a crucial role in viral replication and host cell manipulation.
  • The IE2 protein is known to influence host cell cycle progression and apoptosis, but the precise relationship between its expression levels and anti-apoptotic function remains poorly understood.

Purpose:

  • To investigate the correlation between the expression level of HCMV IE2 protein and its anti-apoptotic activity.
  • To elucidate the role of IE2 protein in modulating apoptosis induced by TNF-alpha.
  • To examine the impact of IE2 protein expression on p53 levels.

Summary:

  • A Tet-On inducible cell line was established to control HCMV IE2 protein expression.
  • Results demonstrate that IE2 protein effectively inhibits TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis.
  • The anti-apoptotic efficacy of IE2 protein appears to be dose-dependent, correlating with its expression level.
  • No significant changes in p53 expression were observed between cells expressing IE2 protein and control cells, suggesting alternative signaling pathways are involved.

Impact:

  • Provides novel insights into the mechanism by which HCMV IE2 protein confers resistance to apoptosis.
  • Suggests that IE2 protein may evade host anti-viral responses by suppressing apoptosis through p53-independent pathways.
  • Highlights the potential of targeting IE2 protein-mediated apoptosis inhibition for therapeutic strategies against HCMV infections.

More Related Videos

Simultaneous Quantification of Anti-vector and Anti-transgene-Specific CD8+ T Cells Via MHC I Tetramer Staining After Vaccination with a Viral Vector08:10

Simultaneous Quantification of Anti-vector and Anti-transgene-Specific CD8+ T Cells Via MHC I Tetramer Staining After Vaccination with a Viral Vector

Published on: November 28, 2018

Use of Single Chain MHC Technology to Investigate Co-agonism in Human CD8+ T Cell Activation12:09

Use of Single Chain MHC Technology to Investigate Co-agonism in Human CD8+ T Cell Activation

Published on: February 28, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Leaky Scanning02:28

Leaky Scanning

During most eukaryotic translation processes, the small 40S ribosome subunit scans an mRNA from its 5' end until it encounters the first start AUG codon. The large 60S ribosomal subunit then joins the smaller one to initiate protein synthesis. The location of the translation initiation is largely determined by the nucleotides near the start codon as there may be multiple translation initiation sites present on the mRNA.  Marilyn Kozak discovered that the sequence RCCAUGG (where R stands for...
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response01:27

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Cytomegalovirus Disease01:27

Cytomegalovirus Disease

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...
Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity01:26

Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity

An antigen is any substance the immune system identifies as foreign and potentially harmful to the body, prompting an immune response. Antigens have two functional properties: immunogenicity and reactivity. Immunogenicity is the ability of an antigen to stimulate a specific immune response. At the same time, reactivity describes the antigen's ability to react with the cells and antibodies produced in response to it.
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and reactivity.