A herpesvirus entry mediator mutein with selective agonist action for the inhibitory receptor B and T lymphocyte attenuator [Protein Structure and Folding]

The human cytomegalovirus opening reading frame UL144 is an ortholog of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily member, herpesvirus entry mediator (TNFRSF14; HVEM). HVEM binds the TNF ligands, LIGHT and LTa; the immunoglobulin inhibitory receptor, B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA); and the natural killer (NK) cell-activating receptor CD160. However, UL144 selectively binds BTLA, avoiding activation of inflammatory signaling initiated by CD160 in NK cells. BTLA and CD160 cross-compete for binding HVEM, but the structural basis for the ligand selectivity by UL144 and how it acts as an antiinflammatory agonist remains unclear. Here, we modeled the UL144 structure and characterized its binding with BTLA. The UL144 structure was predicted to closely mimic the surface of HVEM, and we also found that both HVEM and UL144 bind a common epitope of BTLA, whether engaged in trans or in cis, that is shared with a BTLA antibody agonist. On the basis of the UL144 selectivity, we engineered a BTLA-selective HVEM protein to understand the basis for ligand selectivity and BTLA agonism to develop novel antiinflammatory agonists. This HVEM mutein did not bind CD160 or TNF ligands, but did bind BTLA with 10-fold stronger affinity than wild-type HVEM, and retained potent inhibitory activity that reduced T-cell receptor, B-cell receptor, and interferon signaling in B cells. In conclusion, using a viral immune evasion strategy that shows broad immune-ablating activity, we have identified a novel antiinflammatory BTLA-selective agonist.

from # All Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis via Alexandros G.Sfakianakis on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2zxufok
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