scholarly journals Analysis of Human Alphaherpesvirus MicroRNA Expression in Latently Infected Human Trigeminal Ganglia

2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (20) ◽  
pp. 10677-10683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Umbach ◽  
Maria A. Nagel ◽  
Randall J. Cohrs ◽  
Donald H. Gilden ◽  
Bryan R. Cullen
Keyword(s):  
Trigeminal Ganglia ◽  
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 ◽  
Viral Mirnas ◽  
Varicella Zoster ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Latently Infected ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Virally Encoded ◽  
Simplex Virus ◽  
Hsv 1

ABSTRACT Analysis of cells infected by a wide range of herpesviruses has identified numerous virally encoded microRNAs (miRNAs), and several reports suggest that these viral miRNAs are likely to play key roles in several aspects of the herpesvirus life cycle. Here we report the first analysis of human ganglia for the presence of virally encoded miRNAs. Deep sequencing of human trigeminal ganglia latently infected with two pathogenic alphaherpesviruses, herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV), confirmed the expression of five HSV-1 miRNAs, miR-H2 through miR-H6, which had previously been observed in mice latently infected with HSV-1. In addition, two novel HSV-1 miRNAs, termed miR-H7 and miR-H8, were also identified. Like four of the previously reported HSV-1 miRNAs, miR-H7 and miR-H8 are encoded within the second exon of the HSV-1 latency-associated transcript. Although VZV genomic DNA was readily detectable in the three human trigeminal ganglia analyzed, we failed to detect any VZV miRNAs, suggesting that VZV, unlike other herpesviruses examined so far, may not express viral miRNAs in latently infected cells.

scholarly journals Dok-1 and Dok-2 Are Required To Maintain Herpes Simplex Virus 1-Specific CD8+ T Cells in a Murine Model of Ocular Infection

2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (15) ◽  
Author(s):  
Soumia Lahmidi ◽  
Mitra Yousefi ◽  
Slimane Dridi ◽  
Pascale Duplay ◽  
Angela Pearson
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Herpes Simplex ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
T Cell Response ◽  
Ocular Infection ◽  
Trigeminal Ganglia ◽  
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 ◽  
Latently Infected ◽  
Simplex Virus ◽  
Hsv 1

ABSTRACT Dok-1 and Dok-2 negatively regulate responses downstream of several immune receptors in lymphoid and myeloid cells. Recent evidence showed that Dok proteins are essential in the formation of memory CD8+ T cells to an exogenous epitope expressed by vaccinia virus; however, the importance of Dok-1 and Dok-2 in the control of viral infection is unknown. Here, we investigated the role of Dok proteins in modulating the immune response against herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) in a mouse model of ocular infection. During acute infection, viral titers in the eye were similar in wild-type (WT) and Dok-1 and Dok-2 double-knockout (DKO) mice, and the percentages of infiltrating leukocytes were similar in DKO and WT corneas and trigeminal ganglia (TG). DKO mice exhibited a diminished CD8+ T cell response to the immunodominant HSV-1 glycoprotein B (gB) epitope in the spleen and draining lymph nodes compared to WT mice during acute infection. Remarkably, gB-specific CD8+ T cells almost completely disappeared in the spleens of DKO mice during latency, and the reduction of CD8+ effector memory T (Tem) cells was more severe than that of CD8+ central memory T (Tcm) cells. The percentage of gB-specific CD8+ T cells in TG during latency was also dramatically reduced in DKO mice; however, they were phenotypically similar to those from WT mice. In ex vivo assays, reactivation was detected earlier in TG cultures from infected DKO versus WT mice. Thus, Dok-1 and Dok-2 promote survival of gB-specific CD8+ T cells in TG latently infected with HSV-1. IMPORTANCE HSV-1 establishes lifelong latency in sensory neurons of trigeminal ganglia (TG). In humans, HSV-1 is able to sporadically reactivate from latently infected neurons and establish a lytic infection at a site to which the neurons project. Most herpetic disease in humans is due to reactivation of HSV-1 from latency rather than to primary acute infection. CD8+ T cells are thought to play an important role in controlling recurrent infections. In this study, we examined the involvement of Dok-1 and Dok-2 signaling proteins in the control of HSV-1 infection. We provide evidence that Dok proteins are required to maintain a CD8+ T cell response against HSV-1 during latency—especially CD8+ Tem cells—and that they negatively affect HSV-1 reactivation from latency. Elucidating Dok-mediated mechanisms involved in the control of HSV-1 reactivation from latency might contribute to the development of therapeutic strategies to prevent recurrent HSV-1-induced pathology.

scholarly journals Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Latency and the Kinetics of Reactivation Are Regulated by a Complex Network of Interactions between the Herpesvirus Entry Mediator, Its Ligands (gD, BTLA, LIGHT, and CD160), and the Latency-Associated Transcript

2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (24) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaohui Wang ◽  
Alexander V. Ljubimov ◽  
Ling Jin ◽  
Klaus Pfeffer ◽  
Mitchell Kronenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Herpes Simplex Virus ◽  
Herpes Simplex ◽  
Trigeminal Ganglia ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 ◽  
Latently Infected ◽  
Simplex Virus ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Herpesvirus Entry Mediator ◽  
Hsv 1

ABSTRACTRecently, we reported that the herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM; also called TNFRSF14 or CD270) is upregulated by the latency-associated transcript (LAT) of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and that the absence of HVEM affects latency reactivation but not primary infection in ocularly infected mice. gD has been shown to bind to HVEM. LIGHT (TNFSF14), CD160, and BTLA (B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator) also interact with HVEM and can interfere with HSV gD binding. It was not known if LIGHT, CD160, or BTLA affected the level of latency reactivation in the trigeminal ganglia (TG) of latently infected mice. To address this issue, we ocularly infected LIGHT−/−, CD160−/−, and BTLA−/−mice with LAT(+) and LAT(−) viruses, using similarly infected wild-type (WT) and HVEM−/−mice as controls. The amount of latency, as determined by the levels of gB DNA in the TG of the LIGHT−/−, CD160−/−, and BTLA−/−mice infected with either LAT(+) or LAT(−) viruses, was lower than that in WT mice infected with LAT(+) virus and was similar in WT mice infected with LAT(−) virus. The levels of LAT RNA in HVEM−/−, LIGHT−/−, CD160−/−, and BTLA−/−mice infected with LAT(+) virus were similar and were lower than the levels of LAT RNA in WT mice. However, LIGHT−/−, CD160−/−, and BTLA−/−mice, independent of the presence of LAT, had levels of reactivation similar to those of WT mice infected with LAT(+) virus. Faster reactivation correlated with the upregulation of HVEM transcript. The LIGHT−/−, CD160−/−, and BTLA−/−mice had higher levels of HVEM expression, and this, along with the absence of BTLA, LIGHT, or CD160, may contribute to faster reactivation, while the absence of each molecule, independent of LAT, may have contributed to lower latency. This study suggests that, in the absence of competition with gD for binding to HVEM, LAT RNA is important for WT levels of latency but not for WT levels of reactivation.IMPORTANCEThe effects of BTLA, LIGHT, and CD160 on latency reactivation are not known. We show here that in BTLA, LIGHT, or CD160 null mice, latency is reduced; however, HVEM expression is upregulated compared to that of WT mice, and this upregulation is associated with higher reactivation that is independent of LAT but dependent on gD expression. Thus, one of the mechanisms by which BTLA, LIGHT, and CD160 null mice enhance reactivation appears to be the increased expression of HVEM in the presence of gD. Thus, our results suggest that blockade of HVEM-LIGHT-BTLA-CD160 contributes to reduced HSV-1 latency and reactivation.

scholarly journals Latent Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Infection Does Not Induce Apoptosis in Human Trigeminal Ganglia

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (10) ◽  
pp. 5747-5750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Himmelein ◽  
Anja Lindemann ◽  
Inga Sinicina ◽  
Michael Strupp ◽  
Thomas Brandt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Herpes Simplex Virus ◽  
Herpes Simplex ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Trigeminal Ganglia ◽  
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 ◽  
Reverse Transcription Quantitative Pcr ◽  
Latently Infected ◽  
Simplex Virus ◽  
Hsv 1

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) can establish lifelong latency in human trigeminal ganglia. Latently infected ganglia contain CD8+T cells, which secrete granzyme B and are thus capable of inducing neuronal apoptosis. Using immunohistochemistry and single-cell reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), higher frequency and transcript levels of caspase-3 were found in HSV-1-negative compared to HSV-1-positive ganglia and neurons, respectively. No terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay-positive neurons were detected. The infiltrating T cells do not induce apoptosis in latently infected neurons.

scholarly journals Characterization of Varicella-Zoster Virus Gene 21 and 29 Proteins in Infected Cells

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (14) ◽  
pp. 7228-7238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randall J. Cohrs ◽  
Jeanne Wischer ◽  
Carrie Essman ◽  
Donald H. Gilden
Keyword(s):  
Varicella Zoster Virus ◽  
Virus Genome ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Productive Infection ◽  
Gene Promoters ◽  
Varicella Zoster ◽  
Latently Infected ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Simplex Virus ◽  
Hsv 1

ABSTRACT Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) transcription is limited in latently infected human ganglia. Note that much of the transcriptional capacity of the virus genome has not been analyzed in detail; to date, only VZV genes mapping to open reading frames (ORFs) 4, 21, 29, 62, and 63 have been detected. ORF 62 encodes the major immediate-early virus transcription transactivator IE62, ORF 29 encodes the major virus DNA binding protein, and ORF 21 encodes a protein associated with the developing virus nucleocapsid. We analyzed the cellular location of proteins encoded by ORF 21 (21p) and ORF 29 (29p), their phosphorylation state during productive infection, and their ability form a protein-protein complex. The locations of both 21p and 29p within infected cells mimic those of their herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) homologues (UL37 and ICP8); however, unlike these homologues, 21p is not phosphorylated and neither 21p nor 29p exhibits a protein-protein interaction. Transient transfection assays to determine the effect of 21p and 29p on transcription from VZV gene 20, 21, 28, and 29 promoters revealed no significant activation of transcription by 21p or 29p from any of the VZV gene promoters tested, and 21p did not significantly modulate the ability of IE62 to activate gene transcription. A modest increase in IE62-induced activation of gene 28 and 29 promoters was seen in the presence of 29p; however, IE62-induced activation of gene 28 and 29 promoters was reduced in the presence of 21p. A Saccharomyces cerevisiae two-hybrid analysis of 21p indicated that the protein can activate transcription when tethered within a responsive promoter. Together, the data reveal that while VZV gene 21 and HSV-1 UL37 share homology at the nucleic acid level, these proteins differ functionally.

scholarly journals Mutations Inactivating Herpes Simplex Virus 1 MicroRNA miR-H2 Do Not Detectably Increase ICP0 Gene Expression in Infected Cultured Cells or Mouse Trigeminal Ganglia

2016 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongli Pan ◽  
Jean M. Pesola ◽  
Gang Li ◽  
Seamus McCarron ◽  
Donald M. Coen
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Herpes Simplex Virus ◽  
Herpes Simplex ◽  
Trigeminal Ganglia ◽  
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 ◽  
Lytic Gene ◽  
Lytic Gene Expression ◽  
Latently Infected ◽  
Simplex Virus ◽  
Hsv 1

ABSTRACT Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) latency entails the repression of productive (“lytic”) gene expression. An attractive hypothesis to explain some of this repression involves inhibition of the expression of ICP0, a lytic gene activator, by a viral microRNA, miR-H2, which is completely complementary to ICP0 mRNA. To test this hypothesis, we engineered mutations that disrupt miR-H2 without affecting ICP0 in HSV-1. The mutant virus exhibited drastically reduced expression of miR-H2 but showed wild-type levels of infectious virus production and no increase in ICP0 expression in lytically infected cells, which is consistent with the weak expression of miR-H2 relative to the level of ICP0 mRNA in that setting. Following corneal inoculation of mice, the mutant was not significantly different from wild-type virus in terms of infectious virus production in the trigeminal ganglia during acute infection, mouse mortality, or the rate of reactivation from explanted latently infected ganglia. Critically, the mutant was indistinguishable from wild-type virus for the expression of ICP0 and other lytic genes in acutely and latently infected mouse trigeminal ganglia. The latter result may be related to miR-H2 being less effective in inhibiting ICP0 expression in transfection assays than a host microRNA, miR-138, which has previously been shown to inhibit lytic gene expression in infected ganglia by targeting ICP0 mRNA. Additionally, transfected miR-138 reduced lytic gene expression in infected cells more effectively than miR-H2. While this study provides little support for the hypothesis that miR-H2 promotes latency by inhibiting ICP0 expression, the possibility remains that miR-H2 might target other genes during latency. IMPORTANCE Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), which causes a variety of diseases, can establish lifelong latent infections from which virus can reactivate to cause recurrent disease. Latency is the most biologically interesting and clinically vexing feature of the virus. Ever since miR-H2's discovery as a viral microRNA bearing complete sequence complementarity to the mRNA for the important viral gene activator ICP0, inhibition of ICP0 expression by miR-H2 has been a major hypothesis to help explain the repression of lytic gene expression during latency. However, this hypothesis remained untested in latently infected animals. Using a miR-H2-deficient mutant virus, we found no evidence that miR-H2 represses the expression of ICP0 or other lytic genes in cells or mice infected with HSV-1. Although miR-H2 can repress ICP0 expression in transfection assays, such repression is weak. The results suggest that other mechanisms for miR-H2 activity and for the repression of lytic gene expression during latency deserve investigation.

scholarly journals Laser-Capture Microdissection: Refining Estimates of the Quantity and Distribution of Latent Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and Varicella-Zoster Virus DNA in Human Trigeminal Ganglia at the Single-Cell Level

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (22) ◽  
pp. 14079-14087 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kening Wang ◽  
Tsz Y. Lau ◽  
Melissa Morales ◽  
Erik K. Mont ◽  
Stephen E. Straus
Keyword(s):  
Herpes Simplex Virus ◽  
Herpes Simplex ◽  
Laser Capture Microdissection ◽  
Trigeminal Ganglia ◽  
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 ◽  
Varicella Zoster ◽  
Pcr Assays ◽  
Simplex Virus ◽  
Laser Capture ◽  
Hsv 1

ABSTRACT There remains uncertainty and some controversy about the percentages and types of cells in human sensory nerve ganglia that harbor latent herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) DNA. We developed and validated laser-capture microdissection and real-time PCR (LCM/PCR) assays for the presence and copy numbers of HSV-1 gG and VZV gene 62 sequences in single cells recovered from sections of human trigeminal ganglia (TG) obtained at autopsy. Among 970 individual sensory neurons from five subjects, 2.0 to 10.5% were positive for HSV-1 DNA, with a median of 11.3 copies/positive cell, compared with 0.2 to 1.5% of neurons found to be positive by in situ hybridization (ISH) for HSV-1 latency-associated transcripts (LAT), the classical surrogate marker for HSV latency. This indicates a more pervasive latent HSV-1 infection of human TG neurons than originally thought. Combined ISH/LCM/PCR assays revealed that the majority of the latently infected neurons do not accumulate LAT to detectable levels. We detected VZV DNA in 1.0 to 6.9% of individual neurons from 10 subjects. Of the total 1,722 neurons tested, 4.1% were VZV DNA positive, with a median of 6.9 viral genomes/positive cell. After removal by LCM of all visible neurons on a slide, all surrounding nonneuronal cells were harvested and assayed: 21 copies of HSV-1 DNA were detected in ∼5,200 nonneuronal cells, while nine VZV genomes were detected in ∼14,200 nonneuronal cells. These data indicate that both HSV-1 and VZV DNAs persist in human TG primarily, if not exclusively, in a moderate percentage of neuronal cells.

scholarly journals CD8+T Cells Play a Bystander Role in Mice Latently Infected with Herpes Simplex Virus 1

2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (10) ◽  
pp. 5059-5067 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin R. Mott ◽  
David Gate ◽  
Harry H. Matundan ◽  
Yasamin N. Ghiasi ◽  
Terrence Town ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Herpes Simplex Virus ◽  
Herpes Simplex ◽  
Trigeminal Ganglia ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Latently Infected ◽  
Simplex Virus ◽  
Hsv 1

ABSTRACTBased on an explant reactivation model, it has been proposed that CD8+T cells maintain latency in trigeminal ganglia (TG) of mice latently infected with herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) [T. Liu, K. M. Khanna, X. Chen, D. J. Fink, and R. L. Hendricks, J Exp Med 191:1459–1466, 2000, doi:10.1084/jem.191.9.1459; K. M. Khanna, R. H. Bonneau, P. R. Kinchington, and R. L. Hendricks, Immunity 18:593-603, 2003, doi:10.1016/S1074-7613(03)00112-2]. In those studies, BALB/c mice were ocularly infected with an avirulent HSV-1 strain (RE) after corneal scarification. However, in our studies, we typically infect mice with a virulent HSV-1 strain (McKrae) that does not require corneal scarification. Using a combination of knockout mice, adoptive transfers, and depletion studies, we recently found that CD8α+dendritic cells (DCs) contribute to HSV-1 latency and reactivation in TG of ocularly infected mice (K. R. Mott, S. J. Allen, M. Zandian, B. Konda, B. G. Sharifi, C. Jones, S. L. Wechsler, T. Town, and H. Ghiasi, PLoS One 9:e93444, 2014, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0093444). This suggested that CD8+T cells might not be the major regulators of HSV-1 latency in the mouse TG. To investigate this iconoclastic possibility, we used a blocking CD8 antibody and CD8+T cells in reactivated TG explants from mice latently infected with (i) the avirulent HSV-1 strain RE following corneal scarification or (ii) the virulent HSV-1 strain McKrae without corneal scarification. Independently of the strain or approach, our results show that CD8α+DCs, not CD8+T cells, drive latency and reactivation. In addition, adoptive transfer of CD8+T cells from wild-type (wt) mice to CD8α−/−mice did not restore latency to the level for wt mice or wt virus. In the presence of latency-associated transcript (LAT(+); wt virus), CD8+T cells seem to play a bystander role in the TG. These bystander T cells highly express PD-1, most likely due to the presence of CD8α+DCs. Collectively, these results support the notion that CD8+T cells do not play a major role in maintaining HSV-1 latency and reactivation.SIGNIFICANCEThis study addresses a fundamentally important and widely debated issue in the field of HSV latency—reactivation. In this article, we directly compare the effects of anti-CD8 antibody, CD8+T cells, LAT, and CD8α+DCs in blocking explant reactivation in TG of mice latently infected with avirulent or virulent HSV-1. Our data suggest that CD8+T cells are not responsible for an increase or maintenance of latency in ocularly infected mice. However, they seem to play a bystander role that correlates with the presence of LAT, higher subclinical reactivation levels, and higher PD-1 expression levels.

scholarly journals Analysis of Individual Human Trigeminal Ganglia for Latent Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and Varicella-Zoster Virus Nucleic Acids Using Real-Time PCR

2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (24) ◽  
pp. 11464-11471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randall J. Cohrs ◽  
Jessica Randall ◽  
John Smith ◽  
Donald H. Gilden ◽  
Christine Dabrowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Herpes Simplex Virus ◽  
Herpes Simplex ◽  
Herpes Simplex Virus Type ◽  
Trigeminal Ganglia ◽  
Varicella Zoster ◽  
Latently Infected ◽  
Left And Right ◽  
Simplex Virus ◽  
Hsv 1

ABSTRACT Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) establish latent infections in the peripheral nervous system following primary infection. During latency both virus genomes exhibit limited transcription, with the HSV-1 LATs and at least four VZV transcripts consistently detected in latently infected human ganglia. In this study we used real-time PCR quantitation to determine the viral DNA copy number in individual trigeminal ganglia (TG) from 17 subjects. The number of HSV-1 genomes was not significantly different between the left and right TG from the same individual and varied per subject from 42.9 to 677.9 copies per 100 ng of DNA. The number of VZV genomes was also not significantly different between left and right TG from the same individual and varied per subject from 37.0 to 3,560.5 copies per 100 ng of DNA. HSV-1 LAT transcripts were consistently detected in ganglia containing latent HSV-1 and varied in relative expression by >500-fold. Of the three VZV transcripts analyzed, only transcripts mapping to gene 63 were consistently detected in latently infected ganglia and varied in relative expression by >2,000-fold. Thus, it appears that, similar to LAT transcription in HSV-1 latently infected ganglia, VZV gene 63 transcription is a hallmark of VZV latency.

Assembly of VP26 in herpes simplex virus-1 capsid implicated by 3-D structure of recombinant capsid

1995 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 840-841
Author(s):  
Z. Hong Zhou ◽  
Jing He ◽  
Joanita Jakana ◽  
J. D. Tatman ◽  
Frazer J. Rixon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Herpes Simplex Virus ◽  
Herpes Simplex ◽  
3D Structure ◽  
Structure Study ◽  
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 ◽  
Shell Proteins ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Simplex Virus ◽  
Hsv 1

Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) is a ubiquitous virus which is implicated in diseases ranging from self-curing cold sores to life-threatening infections. The 2500 Å diameter herpes virion is composed of a glycoprotein spike containing, lipid envelope, enclosing a protein layer (the tegument) in which is embedded the capsid (which contains the dsDNA genome). The B-, and A- and C-capsids, representing different morphogenetic stages in HSV-1 infected cells, are composed of 7, and 5 structural proteins respectively. The three capsid types are organized in similar T=16 icosahedral shells with 12 pentons, 150 hexons, and 320 connecting triplexes. Our previous 3D structure study at 26 Å revealed domain features of all these structural components and suggested probable locations for the outer shell proteins, VP5, VP26, VP19c and VP23. VP5 makes up most of both pentons and hexons. VP26 appeared to bind to the VP5 subunit in hexon but not to that in penton.

scholarly journals Varicella-Zoster Virus and Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Differentially Modulate NKG2D Ligand Expression during Productive Infection

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (15) ◽  
pp. 7932-7943 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tessa M. Campbell ◽  
Brian P. McSharry ◽  
Megan Steain ◽  
Barry Slobedman ◽  
Allison Abendroth
Keyword(s):  
Nk Cells ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Cell Activity ◽  
Nkg2d Ligand ◽  
Nk Cell Activity ◽  
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 ◽  
Varicella Zoster ◽  
Ligand Expression ◽  
Simplex Virus ◽  
Hsv 1

ABSTRACTNatural killer (NK) cell-deficient patients are particularly susceptible to severe infection with herpesviruses, especially varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). The critical role that NK cells play in controlling these infections denotes an intricate struggle for dominance between virus and NK cell antiviral immunity; however, research in this area has remained surprisingly limited. Our study addressed this absence of knowledge and found that infection with VZV was not associated with enhanced NK cell activation, suggesting that the virus uses specific mechanisms to limit NK cell activity. Analysis of viral regulation of ligands for NKG2D, a potent activating receptor ubiquitously expressed on NK cells, revealed that VZV differentially modulates expression of the NKG2D ligands MICA, ULBP2, and ULBP3 by upregulating MICA expression while reducing ULBP2 and ULBP3 expression on the surface of infected cells. Despite being closely related to VZV, infection with HSV-1 produced a remarkably different effect on NKG2D ligand expression. A significant decrease in MICA, ULBP2, and ULBP3 was observed with HSV-1 infection at a total cellular protein level, as well as on the cell surface. We also demonstrate that HSV-1 differentially regulates expression of an additional NKG2D ligand, ULBP1, by reducing cell surface expression while total protein levels are unchanged. Our findings illustrate both a striking point of difference between two closely related alphaherpesviruses, as well as suggest a powerful capacity for VZV and HSV-1 to evade antiviral NK cell activity through novel modulation of NKG2D ligand expression.IMPORTANCEPatients with deficiencies in NK cell function experience an extreme susceptibility to infection with herpesviruses, in particular, VZV and HSV-1. Despite this striking correlation, research into understanding how these two alphaherpesviruses interact with NK cells is surprisingly limited. Through examination of viral regulation of ligands to the activating NK cell receptor NKG2D, we reveal patterns of modulation by VZV, which were unexpectedly varied in response to regulation by HSV-1 infection. Our study begins to unravel the undoubtedly complex interactions that occur between NK cells and alphaherpesvirus infection by providing novel insights into how VZV and HSV-1 manipulate NKG2D ligand expression to modulate NK cell activity, while also illuminating a distinct variation between two closely related alphaherpesviruses.

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