title: NK/DC crosstalk in anti-viral response.
abstract: In recent years, it has been emphasized the role of the crosstalk between natural killer (NK) cells and monocyte-derived dendritic cells dendritic cells (moDCs) in the regulation of the early phases of innate immunity innate immunity and of the subsequent adaptive immune responses. NK cells and DCs coordinate their response communicating through direct cell-to-cell contact and soluble factors. NK cells appear to contribute to the quality control of immature DCs (iDCs) undergoing maturation. On the other hand, DCs may shape the magnitude of innate immune responses by modulating the NK-mediated cytolytic activity against tumors or infected cells. Recent studies suggest that the cooperation between NK cells and DCs is also critical in several anti-viral responses. In particular, NK cells are capable of effectively counteracting viral immune evasion immune evasion strategies by eliminating infected DCs, that display impaired antigen presenting functions, thus indirectly favoring the development of adaptive immune responses to viral antigens cross-presented by healthy DCs.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Centro di Eccellenza per le Richerche Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marcenaro
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carlomagno
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pesce
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moretta
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sivori
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D020239:Receptor Cross-Talk / Q000276:immunology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology*