DNA viruses have evolved elaborate mechanisms to overcome host antiviral defences. In adenovirus-infected cells, programmed cell death (apoptosis) induced by the cytokine tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is inhibited by several adenovirus-encoded proteins. Occupation of the cell-surface receptor Fas, a member of the TNF-receptor superfamily that is expressed on most cell types, triggers apoptosis of that cell. Here we show that the adenovirus RID (for receptor internalization and degradation) protein complex, which is an inhibitor of TNF-induced apoptosis, mediates internalization of cell-surface Fas and its destruction inside lysosomes within the cell. Fas has not previously been shown to be internalized and then degraded. RID also mediates internalization of the receptor for epidermal growth factor, but it does not affect the transferrin receptor or class I antigens of the major histocompatibility complex. Removal of Fas from the surface of adenovirus-infected cells expressing RID may allow infected cells to resist Fas-mediated cell death and thus promote their survival.

In the evolutionary battle between viruses and their hosts, viruses have armed themselves with weapons to defeat the host's attacks on infected cells. Various proteins encoded in the adenovirus (Ad) E3 transcription unit protect cells from killing mediated by cytotoxic T cells and death-inducing cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF), Fas ligand, and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). The viral protein E3-gp19 K blocks MHC class-I-restricted antigen presentation, which diminishes killing by cytotoxic T cells. The receptor internalization and degradation (RID) complex (formerly E3-10.4 K/14.5 K) stimulates the clearance from the cell surface and subsequent degradation of the receptors for Fas ligand and TRAIL, thereby preventing the action of these important immune mediators. RID also downmodulates the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), although what role, if any, this function has in immune regulation is uncertain. In addition, RID antagonizes TNF-mediated apoptosis and inflammation through a mechanism that does not primarily involve receptor downregulation. E3-6.7 K functions together with RID in downregulating some TRAIL receptors and may block apoptosis independently of other E3 proteins. Furthermore, E3-14.7 K functions as a general inhibitor of TNF-mediated apoptosis and blocks TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Finally, after expending great effort to maintain cell viability during the early part of the virus replication cycle, Ads lyse the cell to allow efficient virus release and dissemination. To perform this task subgroup C Ads synthesize a protein late in infection named ADP (formerly E3-11.6 K) that is required for efficient virus release. This review focuses on recent experiments aimed at discovering the mechanism of action of these critically important viral proteins.

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Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis through two receptors, TRAIL-R1 (also known as death receptor 4) and TRAIL-R2 (also known as death receptor 5), that are members of the TNF receptor superfamily of death domain-containing receptors. We show that human adenovirus type 5 encodes three proteins, named RID (previously named E3-10.4K/14.5K), E3-14.7K, and E1B-19K, that independently inhibit TRAIL-induced apoptosis of infected human cells. This conclusion was derived from studies using wild-type adenovirus, adenovirus replication-competent mutants that lack one or more of the RID, E3-14.7K, and E1B-19K genes, and adenovirus E1-minus replication-defective vectors that express all E3 genes, RID plus E3-14.7K only, RID only, or E3-14.7K only. RID inhibits TRAIL-induced apoptosis when cells are sensitized to TRAIL either by adenovirus infection or treatment with cycloheximide. RID induces the internalization of TRAIL-R1 from the cell surface, as shown by flow cytometry and indirect immunofluorescence for TRAIL-R1. TRAIL-R1 was internalized in distinct vesicles which are very likely to be endosomes and lysosomes. TRAIL-R1 is degraded, as indicated by the disappearance of the TRAIL-R1 immunofluorescence signal. Degradation was inhibited by bafilomycin A1, a drug that prevents acidification of vesicles and the sorting of receptors from late endosomes to lysosomes, implying that degradation occurs in lysosomes. RID was also shown previously to internalize and degrade another death domain receptor, Fas, and to prevent apoptosis through Fas and the TNF receptor. RID was shown previously to force the internalization and degradation of the epidermal growth factor receptor. E1B-19K was shown previously to block apoptosis through Fas, and both E1B-19K and E3-14.7K were found to prevent apoptosis through the TNF receptor. These findings suggest that the receptors for TRAIL, Fas ligand, and TNF play a role in limiting virus infections. The ability of adenovirus to inhibit killing through these receptors may prolong acute and persistent infections.

Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) provides a natural model system by which immunological control of lentivirus infections may be studied. To date, no detailed study addressing in parallel both the humoral and cellular immune responses induced in horses upon infection by EIAV has been conducted. Therefore, we initiated the first comprehensive characterization of the cellular and humoral immune responses during clinical progression from chronic disease to inapparent stages of EIAV infection. Using new analyses of antibody avidity and antibody epitope conformation dependence that had not been previously employed in this system, we observed that the humoral immune response to EIAV required a 6-to 8-month period in which to fully mature. During this time frame, EIAV-specific antibody evolved gradually from a population characterized by low-avidity, nonneutralizing, and predominantly linear epitope specificity to an antibody population with an avidity of moderate to high levels, neutralizing activity, and predominantly conformational epitope specificity. Analyses of the cell-mediated immune response to EIAV revealed CD4 ؉ and CD8 ؉ major histocompatibility complex-restricted, EIAV-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activity apparent within 3 to 4 weeks postinfection, temporally correlating with the resolution of the primary viremia. After resolution of the initial viremia, EIAV-specific CTL activity differed greatly among the experimentally infected ponies, with some animals having readily detectable CTL activity while others had little measurable CTL activity. Thus, in contrast to the initial viremia, it appeared that no single immune parameter correlated with the resolution of further viremic episodes. Instead, immune control of EIAV infection during the clinically inapparent stage of infection appears to rely on a complex combination of immune system mechanisms to suppress viral replication that effectively functions only after the immune system has evolved to a fully mature state 6 to 8 months postinfection. These findings strongly imply the necessity for candidate EIAV and other lentivirus vaccines to achieve this immune system maturation for efficacious immunological control of lentivirus challenge.