Selective B-cell expression of the MHV-68 latency-associated M2 protein regulates T-dependent antibody response and inhibits apoptosis upon viral infection

Conquering the Host: Determinants of Pathogenesis Learned from Murine Gammaherpesvirus 68

Gammaherpesviruses are an important class of oncogenic pathogens that are exquisitely evolved to their respective hosts. As such, the human gammaherpesviruses Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) do not naturally infect nonhuman primates or rodents. There is a clear need to fully explore mechanisms of gammaherpesvirus pathogenesis, host control, and immune evasion in the host. A gammaherpesvirus pathogen isolated from murid rodents was first reported in 1980; 40 years later, murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68, MuHV-4, γHV68) infection of laboratory mice is a well-established pathogenesis system recognized for its utility in applying state-of-the-art approaches to investigate virus-host interactions ranging from the whole host to the individual cell. Here, we highlight recent advancements in our understanding of the processes by which MHV68 colonizes the host and drives disease. Lessons that inform KSHV and EBV pathogenesis and provide future avenues for novel interventions against infection and virus-associated cancers are emphasized.

The murine gammaherpesvirus immediate-early Rta synergizes with IRF4, targeting expression of the viral M1 superantigen to plasma cells

MHV68 is a murine gammaherpesvirus that infects laboratory mice and thus provides a tractable small animal model for characterizing critical aspects of gammaherpesvirus pathogenesis. Having evolved with their natural host, herpesviruses encode numerous gene products that are involved in modulating host immune responses to facilitate the establishment and maintenance of lifelong chronic infection. One such protein, MHV68 M1, is a secreted protein that has no known homologs, but has been shown to play a critical role in controlling virus reactivation from latently infected macrophages. We have previous demonstrated that M1 drives the activation and expansion of Vβ4⁺ CD8⁺ T cells, which are thought to be involved in controlling MHV68 reactivation through the secretion of interferon gamma. The mechanism of action and regulation of M1 expression are poorly understood. To gain insights into the function of M1, we set out to evaluate the site of expression and transcriptional regulation of the M1 gene. Here, using a recombinant virus expressing a fluorescent protein driven by the M1 gene promoter, we identify plasma cells as the major cell type expressing M1 at the peak of infection in the spleen. In addition, we show that M1 gene transcription is regulated by both the essential viral immediate-early transcriptional activator Rta and cellular interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4), which together potently synergize to drive M1 gene expression. Finally, we show that IRF4, a cellular transcription factor essential for plasma cell differentiation, can directly interact with Rta. The latter observation raises the possibility that the interaction of Rta and IRF4 may be involved in regulating a number of viral and cellular genes during MHV68 reactivation linked to plasma cell differentiation.

Through coevolution with their hosts, gammaherpesviruses have acquired unique genes that aid in infection of a particular host. Here we study the regulation of the MHV68 M1 gene, which encodes a protein that modulates the host immune response. Using a strategy that allowed us to identify MHV68 infected cells in mice, we have determined that M1 expression is largely limited to the antibody producing plasma cells. In addition, we show that M1 gene expression is regulated by both cellular and viral factors, which allow the virus to fine-tune gene expression in response to environmental signals. These findings provide insights into M1 function through a better understanding of how M1 expression is regulated.

Immune escape of γ-herpesviruses from adaptive immunity

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) are two γ-herpesviruses identified in humans and are strongly associated with the development of malignancies. Murine γ-herpesvirus (MHV-68) is a naturally occurring rodent pathogen, representing a unique experimental model for dissecting γ-herpesvirus infection and the immune response. These γ-herpesviruses actively antagonize the innate and adaptive antiviral responses, thereby efficiently establishing latent or persistent infections and even promoting development of malignancies. In this review, we summarize immune evasion strategies of γ-herpesviruses. These include suppression of MHC-I-restricted and MHC-II-restricted antigen presentation, impairment of dendritic cell functions, downregulation of costimulatory molecules, activation of virus-specific regulatory T cells, and induction of inhibitory cytokines. There is a focus on how both γ-herpesvirus-derived and host-derived immunomodulators interfere with adaptive antiviral immunity. Understanding immune-evasive mechanisms is essential for developing future immunotherapies against EBV-driven and KSHV-driven tumors.