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HVEM-LIGHT signaling promotes antibody-dependent neutrophil FcγR-mediated trogocytosis against herpes simplex virus infection
Matthew S. Gromisch, Masayuki Kuraoka, Carl F. Ware, Steven C. Almo, Betsy C. Herold
Matthew S. Gromisch, Masayuki Kuraoka, Carl F. Ware, Steven C. Almo, Betsy C. Herold
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Research Article Immunology Infectious disease Virology

HVEM-LIGHT signaling promotes antibody-dependent neutrophil FcγR-mediated trogocytosis against herpes simplex virus infection

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Abstract

Studies with a candidate vaccine deleted in glycoprotein D (ΔgD-2) for herpes simplex virus (HSV) prevention uncovered a role for herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) in mediating antibody-dependent cell-mediated killing (ADCK) of virally infected cells. Antibodies elicited by ΔgD-2 passively protect WT but not Fc γ receptor (FcγR) or HVEM knockout (KO) mice. The goals of this study were to identify which cells mediate ADCK and the role of HVEM signaling. Using HVEM ligand and conditional cell-type–specific HVEM-KO mice combined with in vitro mouse and human cytolytic assays, we demonstrate that ADCK of HSV-infected cells is mediated primarily by neutrophils and requires their expression of HVEM and its ligand, LIGHT. Cytolysis is not associated with granzyme and perforin production but occurs by a trogocytosis-like pathway. Pharmacological inhibition of myosin light-chain kinase (MLCK), which mediates trogocytosis, inhibits cytolysis. Similar results were obtained when human neutrophils were cocultured with HSV-infected cells opsonized with ADCK-containing human immune serum or with breast cancer cells treated with an anti-HER2 trogocytosis mediating antibody. Killing was significantly reduced when an MLCK inhibitor or blocking antibodies to CD16a, HVEM, or LIGHT were added. Together, these results define a mechanism of HVEM-enhanced FcγR-mediated neutrophil-dependent ADCK of targets cells.

Authors

Matthew S. Gromisch, Masayuki Kuraoka, Carl F. Ware, Steven C. Almo, Betsy C. Herold

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Figure 8

HVEM and LIGHT contribute to antibody-dependent trogocytosis by human neutrophils against HSV-infected targets and anti-HER2 opsonized human breast cancer cells.

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HVEM and LIGHT contribute to antibody-dependent trogocytosis by human ne...
Following removal of PBMCs and RBC lysis from buffy coats, neutrophils (n = 6 donors) were cocultured with DiI-labeled HSV-infected Vero cells pretreated with serum from HSV+ donor containing ADCC-mediating antibodies or HSV– donors. (A) Representative flow plots of target cell DiI cell membrane detection in CD11b+CD66b+ neutrophils. (B) Percentage or (C) fluorescent intensity of neutrophils positive for target cell membrane detection with either HSV+ or HSV– serum. %DiI+ neutrophils and GeoMFI were compared by unpaired t test (**P < 0.01, ****P < 0.0001). (D) Neutrophils were pretreated with DPI, ML-7, or DMSO control before incubation with human serum opsonized HSV infected cell targets in the calcein release assay. Cell-free calcein was measured and converted to percentage cytotoxicity. (E) Representative flow plots of CD11b+CD66b+ neutrophils for expression HVEM, LIGHT, and CD16a in either FMO (black) or a donor sample (red). (F) Expression of HVEM, LIGHT, and CD16a as measured by flow cytometry from human donor neutrophils (n = 6). (G) Enriched neutrophils (n = 6 different donors) were incubated with antibodies blocking HVEM, LIGHT, or CD16a prior to incubation with human serum-treated (HSV+ or HSV– donors) HSV-infected calcein-labeled Vero cells. (H) Human donor neutrophils (n = 3) were incubated with calcein-labeled SKBR3 cells opsonized with increasing doses of a Trastuzumab biosimilar anti-HER2 mAb or an isotype control for 4 hours in the calcein release assay. (I) Calcein-labeled SKBR3 cells were treated with 10 μg of the anti-HER2 mAb and then cocultured with human neutrophils that had been pretreated with blocking antibodies against HVEM, LIGHT, or an isotype control and cytotoxicity monitored by measuring calcein release and presented as percentage cytotoxicity. Cytotoxicity was compared by 1 way ANOVA with Holm-Šidák’s multiple comparisons test (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001).

Copyright © 2026 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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