Open AccessGammaherpesviruses and B Cells: A Relationship That Lasts a Lifetime
Author(s) -
Kaitlin E. Johnson,
Vera L. Tarakanova
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
viral immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.777
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1557-8976
pISSN - 0882-8245
DOI - 10.1089/vim.2019.0126
Subject(s) - biology , b cell , virology , viral infection , immunology , lymphoma , host (biology) , virus , genetics , antibody
Gammaherpesviruses are highly prevalent pathogens that establish life-long infection and are associated with diverse malignancies, including lymphoproliferative diseases and B cell lymphomas. Unlike other viruses that either do not infect B cells or infect B cells transiently, gammaherpesviruses manipulate physiological B cell differentiation to establish life-long infection in memory B cells. Disruption of such viral manipulation by genetic or environmental causes is likely to seed viral lymphomagenesis. In this review, we discuss physiological and unique host and viral mechanisms usurped by gammaherpesviruses to fine tune host B cell biology for optimal infection establishment and maintenance.