Cytomegalovirus restricts ICOSL expression on antigen-presenting cells disabling T cell co-stimulation and contributing to immune evasion

Abstract: Viral infections are controlled, and very often cleared, by activated T lymphocytes. The inducible co-stimulator (ICOS) mediates its functions by binding to its ligand ICOSL, enhancing T-cell activation and optimal germinal center (GC) formation. Here, we show that ICOSL is heavily downmodulated during infection of antigen-presenting cells by different herpesviruses. We found that, in murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV), the immunoevasin m138/fcr-1 physically interacts with ICOSL, impeding its maturation and promoting its lysosomal degradation. This viral protein counteracts T-cell responses, in an ICOS-dependent manner, and limits virus control during the acute MCMV infection. Additionally, we report that blockade of ICOSL in MCMV-infected mice critically regulates the production of MCMV-specific antibodies due to a reduction of T follicular helper and GC B cells. Altogether, these findings reveal a novel mechanism evolved by MCMV to counteract adaptive immune surveillance, and demonstrates a role of the ICOS:ICOSL axis in the host defense against herpesviruses

Location
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
Extent
Online-Ressource
Language
Englisch
Notes
eLife. - 10 (2021) , e59350, ISSN: 2050-084X

Event
Veröffentlichung
(where)
Freiburg
(who)
Universität
(when)
2021
Creator
Angulo, Guillem
Železnjak, Jelena
Martínez-Vicente, Pablo
Puñet-Ortiz, Joan
Hengel, Hartmut
Messerle, Martin
Oxenius, Annette
Jonjic, Stipan
Krmpotić, Astrid
Engel, Pablo
Angulo, Ana

DOI
10.7554/eLife.59350
URN
urn:nbn:de:bsz:25-freidok-1764348
Rights
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Last update
15.08.2025, 7:21 AM CEST

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Associated

Time of origin

  • 2021

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