NK cell activation through the NKG2D ligand MULT-1 is selectively prevented by the glycoprotein encoded by mouse cytomegalovirus gene m145

• DOI: 10.1084/jem.20041617
• Publication Date: 2005-01-11T01:23:33Z
• Authors: Astrid Krmpotic; Milena Hasan; Andrea Loewendorf; Tanja Saulig; Anne Halenius; Tihana Lenac; Bojan Polic; Ivan Bubic; Anja Kriegeskorte; Ester Pernjak-Pugel; Martin Messerle; Hartmut Hengel; Dirk H. Busch; Ulrich H. Koszino...; Stipan Jonjic
• Keywords: NKG2D

The NK cell–activating receptor NKG2D interacts with three different cellular ligands, all of which are regulated by mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV). We set out to define the viral gene product regulating murine UL16-binding protein-like transcript (MULT)-1, a newly described ligand. show that MCMV infection strongly induces MULT-1 expression, but surface expression this glycoprotein is nevertheless completely abolished virus. Screening panel deletion mutants defined m145 as regulator MULT-1. m145-encoded turned be necessary and sufficient regulate preventing plasma membrane residence importance in cell regulation vivo was confirmed attenuating effect lifted after depletion. Our findings underline significance escaping MULT-1/NKG2D signaling for survival maintenance.