Herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM)
is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)
superfamily that has a role in herpes simplex virus entry, in
T cell activation and in tumor immunity. HVEM is
constitutively expressed on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, CD19+
B cells, CD14+ monocytes, neutrophils and dendritic cells
(DCs). The cytoplasmic region of HVEM binds to several
members of the TNFR-associated factor (TRAF) family,
namely, TRAF1, TRAF2, TRAF3 and TRF5, but not to
TRAF4 or TRAF6, and that it activates transcription factors
NF-?B and AP-1. The co-expression of glycoprotein D
(gD) and HVEM results in the inhibition of the NF-?B
activation that is induced by the HVEM overexpression.