Cross-presentation of human cytomegalovirus pp65 (UL83) to CD8(+) T cells is regulated by virus-induced, soluble-mediator-dependent maturation of dendritic cells

Cytotoxic CD8(+) T lymphocytes (CTL) directed against the matrix protein pp 65 are major effectors in controlling infection against human cytomegalovir us (HCMV), a persistent virus of the Betaherpesvirus family. We previously suggested that cross-presentation of pp65 by nonpermissive dendritic cells (DCs) could overcome viral strategies that interfere with activation of CTL (G. Arrode, C. Boccaccio, J. Lule, S. Allart, N. Moinard, J. Abastado, A. Alam, and C. Davrinche, J. Virol. 74:10018-10024, 2000). It is well establi shed that mature I)Cs are very potent in initiating T-cell-mediated immunit y. Consequently, the DC maturation process is a key step targeted by viruse s in order to avoid an immune response. Here, we report that immature I)Cs maintained in coculture with infected human (MRC5) fibroblasts acquired pp6 5 from early-infected cells for cross-presentation to specific HLA-A2-restr icted CTL. In contrast, coculture of I)Cs in the presence of late-infected cells decreased their capacity to stimulate CTL. Analyses of DC maturation after either coculture with infected MRC5 cells or incubation with infected -cell-conditioned medium revealed that acquisition of a mature phenotype wa s a prerequisite for efficient stimulation of CTL and that soluble factors secreted by infected cells were responsible for both up and down regulation of CD83 expression on I)Cs. We identified transforming growth factor beta1 secreted by late HCMV-infected cells as one of these down regulating media tors. These findings suggest that HCMV has devised another means to comprom ise immune surveillance mechanisms. Together, our data indicate that recogn ition of HCMV-infected cells by I)Cs has to occur early after infection to avoid immune evasion and to allow generation of anti-HCMV CTL.