Upregulation of MHC class i expression following dengue virus infection: The mechanism at the promoter level

Evaluation of: Othman A, Abd Rahman N, Yusof R. Induction of MHC class I HLA-A2 promoter by dengue virus occurs at the NFκB binding domains of the class I regulatory complex. Virus Res. 163(1), 238-245 (2011). Unlike many other viruses that downregulate MHC class I expression on infected cell membranes, flaviviruses were reported to upregulate the MHC class I expression. Dengue virus was shown to induce HLA class I expression; however, the precise transcriptional mechanism that is used by the virus remains unclear. This article assessed the findings of a recently published report describing the mechanism used by dengue virus to induce HLA-A2 expression and characterizing the transcription factors that are involved. The study showed that p50/p65 and p65/65 NF-κB dimers bind to the class I regulatory complex within the HLA-A2 promoter. This finding and its significance for the design of possible antiviral therapeutic agents are discussed in this article.