Evidence map›Paper›PMID 19119421›Full record

ArticlePLoS pathogens2009

The Epstein-Barr virus G-protein-coupled receptor contributes to immune evasion by targeting MHC class I molecules for degradation.

Jianmin Zuo, Andrew Currin, Bryan D Griffin, Claire Shannon-Lowe, Wendy A Thomas, Maaike E Ressing, Emmanuel J H J Wiertz, Martin Rowe

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLoS pathogens, 2009. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 116 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
116citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
5.3field-weighted citation impact, top 4% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

116 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 204 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
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  7. Article
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  12. Multiple sclerosis and infection: history, EBV, and the search for mechanism.Microbiology and molecular biology reviews : MMBR · 2025
    Review
  13. Review
  14. Article
  15. Epstein-Barr virus BALF0/1 subverts the Caveolin and ERAD pathways to target B cell receptor complexes for degradation.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2025
    Article
  16. Review
  17. Article
  18. Article
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  20. Review

56 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Jianmin ZuoCancer Research-UK Institute for Cancer Studies, School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Andrew Currin
Bryan D Griffin
Claire Shannon-Lowe
Wendy A Thomas
Maaike E Ressing
Emmanuel J H J Wiertz
Martin Rowe
Cancer Research UK · GBLeiden University Medical Center · NLUniversity of Birmingham · GBUniversity Medical Center Utrecht · NL

Funding

Wellcome TrustWellcome Trust 085852/Z/08/Z
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human herpesvirus that persists as a largely subclinical infection in the vast majority of adults worldwide. Recent evidence indicates that an important component of the persistence strategy involves active interference with the MHC class I antigen processing pathway during the lytic replication cycle. We have now identified a novel role for the lytic cycle gene, BILF1, which encodes a glycoprotein with the properties of a constitutive signaling G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). BILF1 reduced the levels of MHC class I at the cell surface and inhibited CD8(+) T cell recognition of endogenous target antigens. The underlying mechanism involves physical association of BILF1 with MHC class I molecules, an increased turnover from the cell surface, and enhanced degradation via lysosomal proteases. The BILF1 protein of the closely related CeHV15 gamma(1)-herpesvirus of the Rhesus Old World primate (80% amino acid sequence identity) downregulated surface MHC class I similarly to EBV BILF1. Amongst the human herpesviruses, the GPCR encoded by the ORF74 of the KSHV gamma(2)-herpesvirus is most closely related to EBV BILF1 (15% amino acid sequence identity) but did not affect levels of surface MHC class I. An engineered mutant of BILF1 that was unable to activate G protein signaling pathways retained the ability to downregulate MHC class I, indicating that the immune-modulating and GPCR-signaling properties are two distinct functions of BILF1. These findings extend our understanding of the normal biology of an important human pathogen. The discovery of a third EBV lytic cycle gene that cooperates to interfere with MHC class I antigen processing underscores the importance of the need for EBV to be able to evade CD8(+) T cell responses during the lytic replication cycle, at a time when such a large number of potential viral targets are expressed.

Indexed as

CD8-Positive T-LymphocytesHerpesvirus 4, HumanHistocompatibility Antigens Class IHumansReceptors, G-Protein-CoupledSignal TransductionViral ProteinsBILF1 protein, Epstein-Barr virusHistocompatibility Antigens Class IReceptors, G-Protein-CoupledViral Proteins

Identifiers

PMID19119421
PMCPMC2603334
OpenAlexW1966948366

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.