title: Upregulation of CD94/NKG2A receptors and Qa-1b ligand during murine cytomegalovirus infection of salivary glands.
abstract: Following acute infection, murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) replicates persistently in the salivary glands, despite the vigorous response of activated CD8 T cells that infiltrate this gland. Virus-specific CD8 T lymphocytes isolated from this organ were found to express the inhibitory CD94/NKG2A receptor that, in some virus models, confers an inhibitory response to cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). In response to MCMV infection, expression of the CD94/NKG2A ligand, Qa-1b, increased dramatically in the submandibular gland (SMG) prior to upregulation of H-2Dd. However, there was no net negative impact on virus-specific T-cell function, as virus titres were similar in CD94- and CD94+ mice. CD94/NKG2A expression, also known to inhibit apoptosis, did not influence the numbers of accumulated T, NK and NK T cells. These data indicate that expression of inhibitory CD94/NKG2A receptors does not account for the failure of MCMV-specific CTLs to clear the SMG of infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23501, USA.
authors.forename: Victoria J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Cavanaugh
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, and Cancer Research Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Raulet
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23501, USA.
authors.forename: Ann E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D / Q000235:genetics*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D015235:HLA-B Antigens; C527054:KLRC1 protein, human; C527057:Klrc1 protein, mouse; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell