title: Simian immunodeficiency virus infection induces expansion of alpha4beta7+ and cytotoxic CD56+ NK cells.
abstract: Herein we demonstrate that chronic simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection induces significant upregulation of the gut-homing marker alpha4beta7 on macaque NK cells, coupled with downregulation of the lymph node-trafficking marker, CCR7. Interestingly, in naïve animals, alpha4beta7 expression was associated with increased NK cell activation and, on CD16(+) NK cells, delineated a unique dual-function cytotoxic-CD107a(+)/gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)-secreting population. However, while SIV infection increased CD107a expression on stimulated CD56(+) NK cells, alpha4beta7(+) and alpha4beta7(-) NK cells were affected similarly. These findings suggest that SIV infection redirects NK cells away from the lymph nodes to the gut mucosae but alters NK cell function independent of trafficking repertoires.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology, New Harvard Medical School, Southborough Campus, Pine Hill Drive, Southborough, Massachusetts 01772-9102, USA.
authors.forename: R Keith
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Reeves
authors.forename: Tristan I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gillis
authors.forename: R Paul
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D039441:Integrin alpha4 / Q000276:immunology*; D039641:Integrin beta Chains / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D008251:Macaca; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D019002:CD56 Antigen; D039641:Integrin beta Chains; C091368:integrin beta7; D039441:Integrin alpha4