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J. Exp. Med.,
Volume 187, Number 7, April 6, 1998 1037-1046
-induced
Antigen Presentation to CD4 T Cells by Macrophages Via
Regulation of Expression of Major Histocompatibility
Complex Class II-associated Genes
By
From the Center for Immunology and Departments of Pathology and Molecular Microbiology,
Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
CD4 T cells and interferon
(IFN-
) are required for clearance of murine cytomegalovirus
(MCMV) infection from the salivary gland in a process taking weeks to months. To explain the
inefficiency of salivary gland clearance we hypothesized that MCMV interferes with IFN-
induced antigen presentation to CD4 T cells. MCMV infection inhibited IFN-
-induced presentation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II associated peptide antigen by
differentiated bone marrow macrophages (BMM
s) to a T cell hybridoma via impairment of
MHC class II cell surface expression. This effect was independent of IFN-
/
induction by
MCMV infection, and required direct infection of the BMM
s with live virus. Inhibition of
MHC class II cell surface expression was associated with a six- to eightfold reduction in IFN-
induced IAb mRNA levels, and comparable decreases in IFN-
induced expression of invariant
chain (Ii), H-2Ma, and H-2Mb mRNAs. Steady state levels of several constitutive host mRNAs,
including
-actin, cyclophilin, and CD45 were not significantly decreased by MCMV infection, ruling out a general effect of MCMV infection on mRNA levels. MCMV effects were
specific to certain MHC genes since IFN-
-induced transporter associated with antigen presentation (TAP)2 mRNA levels were minimally altered in infected cells. Analysis of early upstream events in the IFN-
signaling pathway revealed that MCMV did not affect activation
and nuclear translocation of STAT1
, and had minor effects on the early induction of IRF-1 mRNA and protein. We conclude that MCMV infection interferes with IFN-
-mediated induction of specific MHC genes and the Ii at a stage subsequent to STAT1
activation and nuclear translocation. This impairs antigen presentation to CD4 T cells, and may contribute to
the capacity of MCMV to spread and persist within the infected host.
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