title: Development of the adaptive NK cell response to human cytomegalovirus in the context of aging.
abstract: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) establishes a highly prevalent life-long latent infection. Though generally subclinical, HCMV infection may have severe consequences during fetal development and in immunocompromised individuals. Based on epidemiological studies HCMV(+) serology has been associated with the development of atherosclerosis, immune senescence and an increase mortality rate in elderly people. Such long-term detrimental effects of the viral infection presumably result from an inefficient immune control of the pathogen, depending on the quality and evolution of the individual host-pathogen relationship. Together with antigen-specific T lymphocytes, NK cells play an important role in anti-viral immune defense. HCMV promotes in some individuals the differentiation and persistent steady state expansion of an NK cell subset bearing the CD94/NKG2C activating receptor. The relationship between this adaptive NK cell response to HCMV and aging is overviewed.
authors.affiliation: Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain; Immunology, Univ. Pompeu Fabra, Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain. Electronic address: lbotet@imim.es.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López-Botet
authors.affiliation: Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain.
authors.forename: Aura
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muntasell
authors.affiliation: Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain.
authors.forename: José E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Martínez-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Immunology, Univ. Pompeu Fabra, Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López-Montañés
authors.affiliation: Immunology, Univ. Pompeu Fabra, Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costa-García
authors.affiliation: Immunology, Univ. Pompeu Fabra, Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain.
authors.forename: Aldi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pupuleku
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: C497869:KLRD1 protein, human; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D
keywords: Age; Cytomegalovirus; Immunity; NKG2C; Natural killer cells