A new insight into viral proteins as Immunomodulatory therapeutic agents. KSHV vOX۲ a homolog of human CD۲۰۰ as a potent anti-inflammatory protein

The physiologic function of the immune system is defense against infectious microbes and internal tumour cells, Therefore, need to have precise modulatory mechanisms to maintain the body homeostasis. The mammalian cellular CD۲۰۰ (OX۲)/CD۲۰۰R interaction is one of such modulatory mechanisms in which myeloid and lymphoid cells are regulated. CD۲۰۰ and CD۲۰۰R molecules are membrane proteins that their immunomodulatory effects are able to suppress inflammatory responses, particularly in the privilege sites such as CNS and eyes. Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), encodes a wide variety of immunoregulatory proteins which play central roles in modulating inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses in favour of virus dissemination. One such protein is a homologue of the, encoded by open reading frame (ORF) K۱۴ and therefore called vOX۲. Based on its gene expression profile during the KSHV life cycle, it is hypothesised that vOX۲ modulates host inflammatory responses. Moreover, it seems that vOX۲ involves in cell adhesion and modulates innate immunity and promotes Th۲ immune responses. In this review the activities of mammalian CD۲۰۰ and KSHV CD۲۰۰ in cell adhesion and immune system modulation are reviewed in the context of potential therapeutic agents.

Keywords:

CD۲۰۰ , Immune modulation , KSHV , RGD , vCD۲۰۰ , vOX۲