A role for NKG2D in NK cell-mediated resistance to poxvirus disease.

Autor: Min Fang, Lewis L Lanier, Luis J Sigal
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2008
Předmět:
Zdroj: PLoS Pathogens, Vol 4, Iss 2, p e30 (2008)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1553-7366
1553-7374
DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.0040030
Popis: Ectromelia virus (ECTV) is an orthopoxvirus (OPV) that causes mousepox, the murine equivalent of human smallpox. C57BL/6 (B6) mice are naturally resistant to mousepox due to the concerted action of innate and adaptive immune responses. Previous studies have shown that natural killer (NK) cells are a component of innate immunity that is essential for the B6 mice resistance to mousepox. However, the mechanism of NK cell-mediated resistance to OPV disease remains undefined. Here we show that B6 mice resistance to mousepox requires the direct cytolytic function of NK cells, as well as their ability to boost the T cell response. Furthermore, we show that the activating receptor NKG2D is required for optimal NK cell-mediated resistance to disease and lethality. Together, our results have important implication towards the understanding of natural resistance to pathogenic viral infections.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals