Murine cytomegalovirus interacts with major histocompatibility complex class I molecules to establish cellular infection

Abstract

The expression of stable, correctly folded major histocompatibility complex class I molecules conferred susceptibility to murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) in cells which were previously resistant to infection, demonstrating that these molecules interact critically with MCMV to initiate infection. All class I molecules could potentiate MCMV infection but H-2Dd and Kb molecules were most efficient. Monoclonal antibodies specific for the α1 and/or α2 domains of Dd and Kb inhibited infection. Infection of L cells transfected with hybrid major histocompatibility complex class I molecules demonstrated that allelic control of susceptibility to MCMV mapped to the α1 domain of Dd when in correct configu..