title: Murine cytomegalovirus regulation of NKG2D ligands.
abstract: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous pathogen that causes morbidity risk in immunologically suppressed and immunodeficient patients including congenital infections. Approaches to curb the consequences of HCMV infections are restricted by a lack of complete understanding of viral pathogenesis. The infection of mice with murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) as a model of HCMV infection has been particularly useful in elucidating the role of innate and adaptive immune response mechanisms. A large number of cytomegalovirus genes modulate the innate and the adaptive host immune response. The products of several MCMV genes are involved in subverting the natural killer (NK) cell response by down-modulating cellular ligands for the NKG2D receptor expressed on NK cells and CD8(+) T cells. Mutant viruses lacking these immunoevasion genes are attenuated with respect to virus growth in vivo. Given the importance of the NKG2D receptor in controlling both NK- and T cell-mediated immunity, it is of tremendous importance to understand the molecular mechanisms and consequences of viral regulation of the NKG2D ligands.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, B. Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Tihana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lenac
authors.forename: Jurica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arapović
authors.forename: Luka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Traven
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krmpotić
authors.forename: Stipan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jonjić
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D018146:Muromegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology*; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell
chemical_list: C527085:KLRK1 protein, human; C527086:Klrk1 protein, mouse; D008024:Ligands; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell