Imprint of human cytomegalovirus infection on the NK cell receptor repertoire.
Expression of the activating CD94/NKG2C killer lectin-like receptor (KLR) specific for HLA-E was analyzed in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from healthy adult blood donors; the expression of other natural killer (NK) cell receptors (ie, CD94/NKG2A, KIR, CD85j, CD161, NKp46, NKp30, and NKG2D) was also studied. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection as well as the HLA-E and killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genotypes were considered as potentially relevant variables associated with CD94/NKG2C expression. The proportion of NKG2C(+) lymphocytes varied within a wide range (<0.1% to 22.1%), and a significant correlation (r = 0.83; P < .001) between NKG2C(+) NK and T cells was noticed. The HLA-E genotype and the number of activating KIR genes of the donors were not significantly related to the percentage of NKG2C(+) lymphocytes. By contrast, a positive serology for HCMV, but not for other herpesviruses (ie, Epstein-Barr and herpes simplex), turned out to be strongly associated (P < .001) with increased proportions of NKG2C(+) NK and T cells. Remarkably, the CD94/NKG2C(+) population expressed lower levels of natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs) (ie, NKp30, NKp46) and included higher proportions of KIR(+) and CD85j(+) cells than CD94/NKG2A(+) cells. Altogether, these data support that HCMV infection selectively shapes the natural killer cell receptor (NKR) repertoire of NK and T cells from healthy carrier individuals.
Molecular Immunopathology Unit, DCEXS, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
Mónica
M
Gumá
Ana
A
Angulo
Carlos
C
Vilches
Natalia
N
Gómez-Lozano
Núria
N
Malats
Miguel
M
López-Botet
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D054340:Receptors, KIR; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D000097625:HLA-E Antigens
D015703:Antigens, CD; D006680:HLA Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D054340:Receptors, KIR; D000097625:HLA-E Antigens; C497869:KLRD1 protein, human