Publication Name	World Journal of Virology
Manuscript ID	117643
Country	Morocco

Category	Immunology
Manuscript Type	Minireviews
Article Title	Major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related A and B molecules and their potential role in virus-associated cancers
Manuscript Source	Invited Manuscript
All Author List	Abdellatif Bouayad
Funding Agency and Grant Number
Corresponding Author	Abdellatif Bouayad, Associate Professor, MD, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Oujda, Mohammed First University, Mohammed V Avenue, Oujda-Angad 4867, Oriental, Morocco. abdellatifbouayad@hotmail.fr
Key Words	Major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related genes A; Major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related genes B; Virus-associated cancers; Polymorphism; Natural killer group 2-member D; Natural killer-cell cytotoxicity
Core Tip	Several oncogenic viruses have evolved multi-layered strategies to subvert the natural killer group 2-member D (NKG2D)-major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related genes A (MICA)/B axis and promote cancer progression. Human papillomavirus drives immune evasion through exosomal release of the truncated MICA*008 variant, which potently downregulates NKG2D and impairs natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity. Chronic hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections create a hypoxic/inflammatory tumor milieu that induces metalloproteases, generating soluble MICA/B that suppresses NKG2D on NK and CD8+ T cells. EBV evades NKG2D-mediated immunity through miR-bamHI-A rightward transcript 7-mediated repression of the transforming growth factor beta 1/cellular myelocytomatosis oncogene/MICA axis and latent membrane protein 2A-driven disruption of stress-induced ligand expression, reinforced by UPR-protein disulfide isomerase inhibition of proper MICA/MICB folding and trafficking. Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus exploits its E3 ubiquitin ligases K3 and K5 to ubiquitinate MICA and other NK-activating ligands such as activation-induced C-type lectin, triggering their endocytic removal and intracellular sequestration to disable multiple NK cell recognition pathways. Therapeutic strategies targeting this axis show considerable promise.
Citation	Bouayad A. Major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related A and B molecules and their potential role in virus-associated cancers. World J Virol 2026; In press

Received	2025-12-12 00:01
Peer-Review Started	2025-12-12 00:01
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-01-07 08:42
Return for Revision	2026-01-07 08:42
Revised	2026-01-15 13:55
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor	2026-02-09 02:42
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-02-09 10:02
Articles in Press	2026-02-09 10:02
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	2220-3249 (online)
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