Epstein-Barr virus: exploiting the immune system by interfering with defective ribosomal products

Microbes Infect. 2004 Nov;6(13):1212-8. doi: 10.1016/j.micinf.2004.08.003.

Abstract

The interaction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes with major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-peptide complexes is a critical step toward the initiation and propagation of specific immune responses against viral infection. Here we review new evidence, taking Epstein-Barr virus as an example, showing that defective ribosomal products provide an important supply of endogenous peptides for entry into the MHC class I antigen-presentation pathway.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation*
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / metabolism*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / immunology*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / pathogenicity*
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology
  • Humans
  • Peptides / immunology
  • Peptides / metabolism*
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology

Substances

  • Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Peptides
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
  • EBV-encoded nuclear antigen 1