title: CD94 is essential for NK cell-mediated resistance to a lethal viral disease.
abstract: It is well established that natural killer (NK) cells confer resistance to many viral diseases, but in only a few instances the molecular mechanisms whereby NK cells recognize virus-infected cells are known. Here we show that CD94, a molecule preferentially expressed by NK cells, is essential for the resistance of C57BL/6 mice to mousepox, a disease caused by the Orthopoxvirus ectromelia virus. Ectromelia virus-infected cells expressing the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class Ib molecule Qa-1(b) are specifically recognized by the activating receptor formed by CD94 and NKG2E. Because CD94-NKG2 receptors and their ligands are highly conserved in rodents and humans, a similar mechanism may exist during human infections with the smallpox and monkeypox viruses, which are highly homologous to ectromelia virus.
authors: Immune Cell Development and Host Defense Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Fang
authors: Mark T
authors: MT
authors: Orr
authors: Pieter
authors: P
authors: Spee
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Egebjerg
authors: Lewis L
authors: LL
authors: Lanier
authors: Luis J
authors: LJ
authors: Sigal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement; D004482:Ectromelia, Infectious / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D