Cytomegalovirus Interleukin-10 Expression in Infected Cells Does Not Impair MHC Class I Restricted Peptide Presentation on Bystanding Antigen-Presenting Cells

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has evolved strategies to counteract its surveillance by the immune system. Mitigation of antiviral immune responses is considered critical for establishment of viral latency and for spread. Recently, a gene encoding an interleukin-10 homologue (cmvIL-10) has been discovered in the HCMV genome. Using recombinant cmvIL-10, several mostly immunosuppressive functions of the molecule have been described. However, the role of cmvIL-10 in the context of viral infection was not addressed. To be able to analyze this issue, we generated cmvIL- 10-negative viral mutants. Using these mutants, we tested whether the expression of cmvIL-10 by infected cells would render bysta…