Emergence of CD8+ T cells expressing NK cell receptors in influenza A virus-infected mice.
Both innate and adaptive immune responses play an important role in the recovery of the host from viral infections. In the present report, a subset of cells coexpressing CD8 and NKR-P1C (NK1.1) was found in the lungs of mice infected with influenza A virus. These cells were detected at low numbers in the lungs of uninfected mice, but represented up to 10% of the total CD8(+) T cell population at day 10 postinfection. Almost all of the CD8(+)NK1.1(+) cells were CD8alphabeta(+)CD3(+)TCRalphabeta(+) and a proportion of these cells also expressed the NK cell-associated Ly49 receptors. Interestingly, up to 30% of these cells were virus-specific T cells as determined by MHC class I tetramer staining and by intracellular staining of IFN-gamma after viral peptide stimulation. Moreover, these cells were distinct from conventional NKT cells as they were also found at increased numbers in influenza-infected CD1(-/-) mice. These results demonstrate that a significant proportion of CD8(+) T cells acquire NK1.1 and other NK cell-associated molecules, and suggests that these receptors may possibly regulate CD8(+) T cell effector functions during viral infection.
Kambayashi
T
T
Microbiology and Tumor Biology Center, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Assarsson
E
E
Michaëlsson
J
J
Berglund
P
P
Diehl
A D
AD
Chambers
B J
BJ
Ljunggren
H G
HG
D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D002460:Cell Line; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000276:immunology; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000378:metabolism; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D007700:Kinetics; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology
D000941:Antigens; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; C527211:Klrb1c protein, mouse; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011506:Proteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; C102366:nucleoprotein (366-374), influenza virus