title: Molecular and functional characterization of NKG2D, NKp80, and NKG2C triggering NK cell receptors in rhesus and cynomolgus macaques: monitoring of NK cell function during simian HIV infection.
abstract: An involvement of innate immunity and of NK cells during the priming of adaptive immune responses has been recently suggested in normal and disease conditions such as HIV infection and acute myelogenous leukemia. The analysis of NK cell-triggering receptor expression has been so far restricted to only NKp46 and NKp30 in Macaca fascicularis. In this study, we extended the molecular and functional characterization to the various NK cell-triggering receptors using PBMC and to the in vitro-derived NK cell populations by cytofluorometry and by cytolytic activity assays. In addition, RT-PCR strategy, cDNA cloning/sequencing, and transient transfections were used to identify and characterize NKp80, NKG2D, CD94/NKG2C, and CD94/NKG2A in M. fascicularis and Macaca mulatta as well as in the signal transducing polypeptide DNAX-activating protein DAP-10. Both M. fascicularis and M. mulatta NK cells express NKp80, NKG2D, and NKG2C molecules, which displayed a high degree of sequence homology with their human counterpart. Analysis of NK cells in simian HIV-infected M. fascicularis revealed reduced surface expression of selected NK cell-triggering receptors associated with a decreased NK cell function only in some animals. Overall surface density of NK cell-triggering receptors on peripheral blood cells and their triggering function on NK cell populations derived in vitro was not decreased compared with uninfected animals. Thus, triggering NK cell receptor monitoring on macaque NK cells is possible and could provide a valuable tool for assessing NK cell function during experimental infections and for exploring possible differences in immune correlates of protection in humans compared with cynomolgus and rhesus macaques undergoing different vaccination strategies.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biassoni
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fogli
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cantoni
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Romana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.forename: Gerrit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koopman
authors.forename: Aurelio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cafaro
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ensoli
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moretta
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moretta
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Maria
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000378:metabolism; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic / Q000379:methods; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics; D019281:Dimerization; D006801:Humans; D020014:K562 Cells; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; C120528:HCST protein, human; C527054:KLRC1 protein, human; C527059:KLRC2 protein, human; C497869:KLRD1 protein, human; C431711:KLRF1 protein, human; C527085:KLRK1 protein, human; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell