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Chapter category: Viruses
Herpesvirus Encoded Chemokines and Chemokine Receptors
Chapter authors:
Thomas N. Kledal
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Herpesviruses and poxviruses have pirated components of the host chemokine system
and optimized these proteins to increase their success during infection. Both the
beta-herpesviruses, e.g., human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), and the gamma-herpesviruses, e.g., Kaposi’s sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV) devote a significant portion of their genomes to immune-modulatory gene homologs that have prominent and potent chemokine and chemokine receptor activities. HCMV encodes two chemokine homologs, vCXCL1(UL146) and vCXCL2(UL147), a constitutively active, broad spectrum CC/CX3C-chemokine receptor, US28, and three orphan seven trans-membrane-spanning (7TM) G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), UL33, UL78 and US27. KSHV encodes three chemokine homologs, vCCL1 (vMIP-I/1a), vCCL2 (vMIP-II/1b) and vCCL3 (vMIP-III/BCK) and one constitutively active, broad-spectrum CXC -chemokine receptor, ORF74. By manipulating the host chemokine system, herpesviruses subvert the host immune response, not only to undermine the effectiveness of antiviral immunity, but also to directly benefit the virus by establishing a foothold and promoting dissemination in the host. Future studies on the interactions between the chemokine system and the leukotropic herpesviruses are likely to provide important insights into the biology of herpesviruses as well as into the regulation of the mammalian immune system.
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