Viral immunosuppression: disabling the guards
Marco Colonna
Marco Colonna
Published March 1, 2004
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2004;113(5):660-662. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI21166.
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Commentary

Viral immunosuppression: disabling the guards

Abstract

When facing an immune response, viruses can either attempt to elude them or confront them. A new report demonstrates that a lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) strain can suppress immune responses by targeting both development and activation of DCs. Ironically, type I IFN released in response to LCMV infection contributes to the blockade of DC development. The discovery of these immunosuppressive mechanisms provides new perspectives for the therapy of chronic infections associated with immunosuppression.

Authors

Marco Colonna

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Figure 1

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Immunosuppressive mechanisms of LCMV Cl 13. Cl 13 infects DC precursors ...
Immunosuppressive mechanisms of LCMV Cl 13. Cl 13 infects DC precursors and DCs, possibly using α-DG as the entry receptor. Cl 13 blocks development of CD8α+ and CD8α– DCs from DC precursors (preDCs) and prevents immature DCs (iDCs) from becoming mature DCs (mDCs), which express high levels of MHC, CD40, and B7, and initiate T cell responses. Blockade of CD8α+ DC development by Cl 13 requires type I IFN. The sites of action of other immunosuppressive viruses interfering with DC functions or DC–T cell interactions are indicated. EBV, Epstein-Barr virus; HSV, herpes simplex virus; VV, vaccinia virus; MCMV, murine cytomegalovirus; MV, measles virus.