Adaptive reconfiguration of the human NK-cell compartment in response to cytomegalovirus: a different perspective of the host-pathogen interaction.

Abstract

As discussed in this review, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection in healthy individuals is associated with a variable and persistent increase of NK cells expressing the CD94/NKG2C activating receptor. The expansion of NKG2C(+) NK cells reported in other infectious diseases is systematically associated with HCMV co-infection. The functionally mature NKG2C(bright) NK-cell subset expanding in HCMV(+) individuals displays inhibitory Ig-like receptors (KIR and LILRB1) specific for self HLA class I, and low levels of NKp46 and NKp30 activating receptors. Such reconfiguration of the NK-cell compartment appears particularly marked in immunocompromised patients and in children with symptomatic congenital infection, thus suggesting that its magnitude may be inversely related with the efficiency of the T-cell-mediated response. This effect of HCMV infection is reminiscent of the pattern of response of murine Ly49H(+) NK cells against murine CMV (MCMV), and it has been hypothesized that a cognate interaction of the CD94/NKG2C receptor with HCMV-infected cells may drive the expansion of the corresponding NK-cell subset. Yet, the precise role of NKG2C(+) cells in the control of HCMV infection, the molecular mechanisms underlying the NK-cell compartment redistribution, as well as its putative influence in the response to other pathogens and tumors remain open issues.

• Authors: Aura Muntasell, Carlos Vilches, Ana Angulo, Miguel López-Botet
• Journal: European journal of immunology (Eur J Immunol) Vol. 43 Issue 5 Pg. 1133-41 (May 2013) ISSN: 1521-4141 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 23552990 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Chemical References

• KLRC2 protein, human
• KLRD1 protein, human
• NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C
• NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D
• Receptors, Natural Killer Cell

Topics

• Adaptation, Physiological (immunology)
• Animals
• Cell Proliferation
• Child
• Cytomegalovirus (immunology)
• Cytomegalovirus Infections (immunology, pathology, virology)
• Gene Expression
• Herpesviridae Infections (immunology, pathology, virology)
• Host-Pathogen Interactions
• Humans
• Killer Cells, Natural (immunology, pathology, virology)
• Muromegalovirus (immunology)
• NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C (genetics, immunology)
• NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D (genetics, immunology)
• Receptors, Natural Killer Cell (genetics, immunology)
• T-Lymphocytes (immunology, pathology, virology)