Viral inhibitors of NKG2D ligands for tumor surveillance.
Natural Killer cells (NK) are key for the innate immune response against tumors and viral infections. Several viral proteins evade host immune response and target the NK cell receptor NKG2D and its ligands. Areas covered: This review aimed to describe the viruses and their proteins that interfere with the NKG2D receptor and their ligands, and how these interactions lead to immune evasion, host protection, and tissue damage from acute and chronic viral infections. Expert opinion: The study of viral proteins has already impacted the field of oncology. A prime example is the HBV vaccine and the development of antiviral drugs for HIV, Hepatitis C, and the family of Herpesviridae viruses. The NKG2D system seems to be a rational therapeutic target. Nevertheless, an effective cytotoxic response by NK cells is mediated by a network of activating and inhibitory receptors, the integration of which determines if the NK cell becomes cytotoxic or permissive. Immunotherapeutic agents that increase the antitumor lytic activity of NK cells through modulating activation and inhibitory signaling of NK cells are being developed. Nevertheless, more research is needed to dissect the integrative mechanism of NK cells function to fully exploit their antitumor and antiviral effector mechanisms.
a Division of Basic Research , Instituto Nacional de Cancerología , Mexico City , Mexico.
Alma
A
Chávez-Blanco
b Departamento de Inmunología , Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, ENCB-IPN , Mexico City , México.
Rommel
R
Chacón-Salinas
a Division of Basic Research , Instituto Nacional de Cancerología , Mexico City , Mexico.
Guadalupe
G
Dominguez-Gomez
a Division of Basic Research , Instituto Nacional de Cancerología , Mexico City , Mexico.
Aurora
A
Gonzalez-Fierro
a Division of Basic Research , Instituto Nacional de Cancerología , Mexico City , Mexico.
Enrique
E
Perez-Cardenas
a Division of Basic Research , Instituto Nacional de Cancerología , Mexico City , Mexico.
Lucia
L
Taja-Chayeb
a Division of Basic Research , Instituto Nacional de Cancerología , Mexico City , Mexico.
Catalina
C
Trejo-Becerril
c Unidad de Investigacion Biomedica en Cancer , Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas UNAM/Instituto Nacional de Cancerología , Mexico City , Mexico.|d Unidad de Investigacion Basica Aplicada , ISSEMyM Cancer Center , Toluca , Mexico.
Alfonso
A
Duenas-Gonzalez
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008024:Ligands; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D008024:Ligands; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K
NK cells; innate immunity; oncogenic virus; viral infection; viral proteins