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Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens

Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens

The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...

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A Restriction Enzyme Based Cloning Method to Assess the In vitro Replication Capacity of HIV-1 Subtype C Gag-MJ4 Chimeric Viruses

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HLA-C Downmodulation by HIV-1 Vpu.

Edward Barker¹, David T Evans²

¹Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, 1735 W. Harrison Street, 620 Cohn Building, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.

Cell Host & Microbe

|May 14, 2016

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Vpu protein downmodulates HLA-C. This finding revises the established model of how HIV-1 evades immune responses from cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells.

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Chronic, Acute, and Reactivated HIV Infection in Humanized Immunodeficient Mouse Models

Chronic, Acute, and Reactivated HIV Infection in Humanized Immunodeficient Mouse Models

Published on: December 3, 2019

Area of Science:

Virology
Immunology
Molecular Biology

Background:

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Nef protein is known to downmodulate HLA-A and HLA-B molecules.
This downmodulation is thought to help infected cells evade cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CD8+ T cell) responses.
The prevailing model suggested HLA-C remained on the cell surface to engage and inhibit natural killer (NK) cells.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of HIV-1 Vpu protein in the modulation of HLA class I molecules, specifically HLA-C.
To re-evaluate the existing model of HIV-1 immune evasion strategies concerning HLA-C and NK cell inhibition.

Main Methods:

Analysis of primary HIV-1 isolates.
Assessment of HLA-C surface expression on infected cells.
Investigation of Vpu protein's interaction with HLA-C.

Main Results:

The HIV-1 Vpu protein, not Nef, was found to downmodulate HLA-C from the surface of infected cells.
Primary HIV-1 isolates utilize Vpu to reduce HLA-C levels, challenging the prior understanding.

Conclusions:

The function of HIV-1 Vpu extends to downmodulating HLA-C, a mechanism previously attributed to Nef or considered absent.
This discovery necessitates a revision of the model explaining how HIV-1 interacts with both CD8+ T cells and NK cells for immune evasion.