Cold Sore Virus Can Evade The Immune System

Immune cells called natural killer T cells are important in detecting and containing herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infections, which cause cold sores. HSV-1 particles are 'displayed' on the surface of infected cells, enabling the natural killer T cells to distinguish between infected and uninfected cells. The molecule CD1d, which presents HSV-1 particles, constantly moves in a loop from the cell surface to the interior of the cell to sample and display of the contents of infected cells to natural killer T cells.

Peter Cresswell and colleagues demonstrate that HSV-1 blocks this loop; specifically preventing CD1d molecules from returning back to the cell surface. As a result, HSV-1-infected cells appear to be uninfected and are therefore nearly 'invisible' to natural killer T cells. Precisely how the virus blocks CD1d looping remains to be determined. However, these results emphasize an additional mechanism by which viruses can escape immune detection.

Author contact:

Peter Cresswell (Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA)
E-mail: peter.cresswell@yale.edu

Abstract available online.

(C) Nature Immunology press release.

Message posted by: Trevor M. D'Souza