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Public Library of Science, PLoS ONE, 11(10), p. e0142540, 2015

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142540

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Murid Gammaherpesvirus Latency-Associated Protein M2 Promotes the Formation of Conjugates between Transformed B Lymphoma Cells and T Helper Cells

Journal article published in 2015 by Diana Fontinha ORCID, Filipa B. Lopes, Sofia Marques, J. Pedro Simas
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

Establishment of persistent infection in memory B cells by murid herpesvirus-4 (MuHV-4) depends on the proliferation of latently infected germinal center B cells, for which T cell help is essential. Whether the virus is capable of modulating B-T helper cell interaction for its own benefit is still unknown. Here, we investigate if the MuHV-4 latency associated M2 protein, which assembles multiprotein complexes with B cell signaling proteins, plays a role. We observed that M2 led to the upregulation of adhesion and co-stimulatory molecules in transduced B cell lines. In an MHC-II restricted OVA peptide-specific system, M2 polarized to the B-T helper contact zone. Furthermore, it promoted B cell polarization, as demonstrated by the increased proximity of the B cell microtubule organizing center to the interface. Consistent with these data, M2 promoted the formation of B-T helper cell conjugates. In an in vitro competition assay, this translated into a competitive advantage, as T cells preferentially conjugated with M2-expressing B cells. However, expression of M2 alone in B cells was not sufficient to lead to T cell activation, as it only occurred in the presence of specific peptide. Taken together, these findings support that M2 promotes the formation of B-T helper cell conjugates. In an in vivo context this may confer a competitive advantage to the infected B cell in acquisition of T cell help and initiation of a germinal center reaction, hence host colonization.