Inhibition of B cell receptor signaling induced by the human adenovirus species D E3/49K protein.

Introduction: The early transcription unit 3 (E3) of human adenoviruses (HAdVs) encodes several immunoevasins, including the E3/49K protein, which is unique for species D of HAdVs. It is expressed as surface transmembrane protein and shed. E3/49K of HAdV-D64 binds to the protein tyrosine phosphatase surface receptor CD45, thereby modulating activation of T and NK cells.
Methods: Considering that E3/49K represents the most polymorphic viral protein among species D HAdVs, we demonstrate here that all tested E3/49K orthologs bind to the immunologically important regulator CD45. Thus, this feature is conserved regardless of the pathological associations of the respective HAdV types.
Results: It appeared that modulation of CD45 is a unique property restricted to HAdVs of species D. Moreover, E3/49K treatment inhibited B cell receptor (BCR) signaling and impaired BCR signal phenotypes. The latter were highly comparable to B cells having defects in the expression of CD45, suggesting E3/49K as a potential tool to investigate CD45 specific functions.
Conclusion: We identified B cells as new direct target of E3/49K-mediated immune modulation, representing a novel viral immunosubversive mechanism.
Competing Interests: Author MB was employed by Navita S.r.l. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
(Copyright © 2024 Hildenbrand, Cramer, Bertolotti, Kaiser, Kläsener, Nickel, Reth, Heim, Hengel, Burgert and Ruzsics.)