The effect of Adenovirus E1A on the human immunoproteasome and MHC complex

Berhane, Sarah (2012). The effect of Adenovirus E1A on the human immunoproteasome and MHC complex. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Adenovirus E1A (AdE1A) is a viral oncoprotein that targets many cellular proteins and pathways, mainly those involved in transcriptional regulation. Proteasomes represent the major non-lysosomal mechanism responsible for protein degradation. Following interferon-γ treatment, three proteasome subunits are replaced by immunosubunits LMP2, LMP7 and MECL-1 producing immunoproteasomes. The proteasome and immunoproteasome generate peptide antigens for MHC class I presentation to cytotoxic T-cells. In this study, the effect of AdE1A on human immunoproteasomes as well as MHC class I and class II cell surface expression was examined.

It was found that AdE1A interacts with the immunoproteasome subunit MECL-1 through its N-terminal and CR3 regions. AdE1A also down-regulated all three immunosubunit expressions during adenovirus infection, transformation and AdE1A transfection, with the exception of Ad5-transformed cells where immunosubunit expression remained unchanged. Furthermore, MHC class I expression remained unaffected in the same three backgrounds. However, in the Ad12 transformants MHC class I was generally reduced prior to IFNγ treatment but was expressed after. MHC class II surface expression, in contrast, was down-regulated in all cases, except in Ad5 infected cells. Similarly, AdE1A reduced IFNγ-stimulated STAT1 phosphorylation and transcriptional response to IFNγ. And finally, T-cell recognition of target cells was reduced in the presence of AdE1A.

In conclusion, AdE1A targets the human immunoproteasome, both through direct binding and down-regulation of expression. It also targets the expression of MHC class I and class II surface expression.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

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