scholarly journals Natural Killer Cells Can Inhibit the Transmission of Human Cytomegalovirus in Cell Culture by Using Mechanisms from Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses

2014 ◽  
Vol 89 (5) ◽  
pp. 2906-2917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeguang Wu ◽  
Christian Sinzger ◽  
Johanna Julia Reichel ◽  
Marlies Just ◽  
Thomas Mertens

ABSTRACTHuman cytomegalovirus (HCMV) transmission within the host is important for the pathogenesis of HCMV diseases. Natural killer (NK) cells are well known to provide a first line of host defense against virus infections. However, the role of NK cells in the control of HCMV transmission is still unknown. Here, we provide the first experimental evidence that NK cells can efficiently control HCMV transmission in different cell types. NK cells engage different mechanisms to control the HCMV transmission both via soluble factors and by cell contact. NK cell-produced interferon gamma (IFN-γ) suppresses HCMV production and induces resistance of bystander cells to HCMV infection. The UL16 viral gene contributes to an immune evasion from the NK cell-mediated control of HCMV transmission. Furthermore, the efficacy of the antibody-dependent NK cell-mediated control of HCMV transmission is dependent on a CD16-158V/F polymorphism. Our findings indicate that NK cells may have a clinical relevance in HCMV infection and highlight the need to consider potential therapeutic strategies based on the manipulation of NK cells.IMPORTANCEHuman cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infects 40% to 100% of the human population worldwide. After primary infection, mainly in childhood, the virus establishes a lifelong persistence with possible reactivations. Most infections remain asymptomatic; however, HCMV represents a major health problem since it is the most frequent cause of infection-induced birth defects and is responsible for high morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. The immune system normally controls the infection by antibodies and immune effector cells. One type of effector cells are the natural killer (NK) cells, which provide a rapid response to virus-infected cells. NK cells participate in viral clearance by inducing the death of infected cells. NK cells also secrete antiviral cytokines as a consequence of the interaction with an infected cell. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms by which NK cells control HCMV transmission, from the perspectives of immune surveillance and immune evasion.

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. e1008807
Author(s):  
Einat Seidel ◽  
Liat Dassa ◽  
Corinna Schuler ◽  
Esther Oiknine-Djian ◽  
Dana G. Wolf ◽  
...  

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune lymphocytes capable of killing target cells without prior sensitization. One pivotal activating NK receptor is NKG2D, which binds a family of eight ligands, including the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-related chain A (MICA). Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous betaherpesvirus causing morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed patients and congenitally infected infants. HCMV encodes multiple antagonists of NK cell activation, including many mechanisms targeting MICA. However, only one of these mechanisms, the HCMV protein US9, counters the most prevalent MICA allele, MICA*008. Here, we discover that a hitherto uncharacterized HCMV protein, UL147A, specifically downregulates MICA*008. UL147A primarily induces MICA*008 maturation arrest, and additionally targets it to proteasomal degradation, acting additively with US9 during HCMV infection. Thus, UL147A hinders NKG2D-mediated elimination of HCMV-infected cells by NK cells. Mechanistic analyses disclose that the non-canonical GPI anchoring pathway of immature MICA*008 constitutes the determinant of UL147A specificity for this MICA allele. These findings advance our understanding of the complex and rapidly evolving HCMV immune evasion mechanisms, which may facilitate the development of antiviral drugs and vaccines.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Einat Seidel ◽  
Liat Dassa ◽  
Esther Oiknine-Djian ◽  
Dana G. Wolf ◽  
Vu Thuy Khanh Le-Trilling ◽  
...  

AbstractNatural killer (NK) cells are innate immune lymphocytes capable of killing target cells without prior sensitization. NK cell activity is regulated by signals received from activating and inhibitory receptors. One pivotal activating NK receptor is NKG2D, which binds a family of eight ligands, including the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-related chain A (MICA). Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous betaherpesvirus causing morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed patients and congenitally infected infants. HCMV encodes multiple antagonists of NK cell activation, including many mechanisms targeting MICA. However, only one of these mechanisms counters the most prevalent MICA allele, MICA*008. Here, we discover that a hitherto uncharacterized HCMV protein, UL147A, specifically targets MICA*008 to proteasomal degradation, thus hindering the elimination of HCMV-infected cells by NK cells. Mechanistic analyses disclose that the non-canonical GPI anchoring pathway of immature MICA*008 constitutes the determinant of UL147A specificity for this MICA allele. These findings advance our understanding of the complex and rapidly evolving HCMV immune evasion mechanisms, which may facilitate the development of antiviral drugs and vaccines.Author SummaryHuman cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a common pathogen that usually causes asymptomatic infection in the immunocompetent population, but the immunosuppressed and fetuses infected in utero suffer mortality and disability due to HCMV disease. Current HCMV treatments are limited and no vaccine has been approved, despite significant efforts. HCMV encodes many genes of unknown function, and virus-host interactions are only partially understood. Here, we discovered that a hitherto uncharacterized HCMV protein, UL147A, downregulates the expression of an activating immune ligand allele named MICA*008, thus hindering the elimination of HCMV-infected cells. Elucidating HCMV immune evasion mechanisms could aid in the development of novel HCMV treatments and vaccines. Furthermore, MICA*008 is a highly prevalent allele implicated in cancer immune evasion, autoimmunity and graft rejection. In this work we have shown that UL147A interferes with MICA*008’s poorly understood, nonstandard maturation pathway. Study of UL147A may enable manipulation of its expression as a therapeutic measure against HCMV.


2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (17) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liat Dassa ◽  
Einat Seidel ◽  
Esther Oiknine-Djian ◽  
Rachel Yamin ◽  
Dana G. Wolf ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system capable of killing hazardous cells, including virally infected cells. NK cell-mediated killing is triggered by activating receptors. Prominent among these is the activating receptor NKG2D, which binds several stress-induced ligands, among them major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-related chain A (MICA). Most of the human population is persistently infected with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a virus which employs multiple immune evasion mechanisms, many of which target NK cell responses. HCMV infection is mostly asymptomatic, but in congenitally infected neonates and in immunosuppressed patients it can lead to serious complications and mortality. Here we discovered that an HCMV protein named UL148A whose role was hitherto unknown is required for evasion of NK cells. We demonstrate that UL148A-deficient HCMV strains are impaired in their ability to downregulate MICA expression. We further show that when expressed by itself, UL148A is not sufficient for MICA targeting, but rather acts in concert with an unknown viral factor. Using inhibitors of different cellular degradation pathways, we show that UL148A targets MICA for lysosomal degradation. Finally, we show that UL148A-mediated MICA downregulation hampers NK cell-mediated killing of HCMV-infected cells. Discovering the full repertoire of HCMV immune evasion mechanisms will lead to a better understanding of the ability of HCMV to persist in the host and may also promote the development of new vaccines and drugs against HCMV. IMPORTANCE Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous pathogen which is usually asymptomatic but that can cause serious complications and mortality in congenital infections and in immunosuppressed patients. One of the difficulties in developing novel vaccines and treatments for HCMV is its remarkable ability to evade our immune system. In particular, HCMV directs significant efforts to thwarting cells of the innate immune system known as natural killer (NK) cells. These cells are crucial for successful control of HCMV infection, and yet our understanding of the mechanisms which HCMV utilizes to elude NK cells is partial at best. In the present study, we discovered that a protein encoded by HCMV which had no known function is important for preventing NK cells from killing HCMV-infected cells. This knowledge can be used in the future for designing more-efficient HCMV vaccines and for formulating novel therapies targeting this virus.


Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 557
Author(s):  
Xuewen Deng ◽  
Hiroshi Terunuma ◽  
Mie Nieda

Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic immune cells with an innate capacity for eliminating cancer cells and virus- infected cells. NK cells are critical effector cells in the immunosurveillance of cancer and viral infections. Patients with low NK cell activity or NK cell deficiencies are predisposed to increased risks of cancer and severe viral infections. However, functional alterations of human NK cells are associated with lifestyles and aging. Personal lifestyles, such as cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, stress, obesity, and aging are correlated with NK cell dysfunction, whereas adequate sleep, moderate exercise, forest bathing, and listening to music are associated with functional healthy NK cells. Therefore, adherence to a healthy lifestyle is essential and will be favorable for immunosurveillance of cancer and viral infections with healthy NK cells.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 3489
Author(s):  
Takayuki Morimoto ◽  
Tsutomu Nakazawa ◽  
Ryosuke Matsuda ◽  
Fumihiko Nishimura ◽  
Mitsutoshi Nakamura ◽  
...  

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary malignant brain tumor in adults. Natural Killer (NK) cells are potent cytotoxic effector cells against tumor cells inducing GBM cells; therefore, NK cell based- immunotherapy might be a promising target in GBM. T cell immunoglobulin mucin family member 3 (TIM3), a receptor expressed on NK cells, has been suggested as a marker of dysfunctional NK cells. We established TIM3 knockout in NK cells, using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9). Electroporating of TIM3 exon 2- or exon 5-targeting guide RNA- Cas9 protein complexes (RNPs) inhibited TIM3 expression on NK cells with varying efficacy. T7 endonuclease I mutation detection assays showed that both RNPs disrupted the intended genome sites. The expression of other checkpoint receptors, i.e., programmed cell death 1 (PD1), Lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG3), T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT), and TACTILE (CD96) were unchanged on the TIM3 knockout NK cells. Real time cell growth assays revealed that TIM3 knockout enhanced NK cell–mediated growth inhibition of GBM cells. These results demonstrated that TIM3 knockout enhanced human NK cell mediated cytotoxicity on GBM cells. Future, CRISPR-Cas9 mediated TIM3 knockout in NK cells may prove to be a promising immunotherapeutic alternative in patient with GBM.


2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ondrej Venglar ◽  
Julio Rodriguez Bago ◽  
Benjamin Motais ◽  
Roman Hajek ◽  
Tomas Jelinek

Natural killer (NK) cells represent a subset of CD3- CD7+ CD56+/dim lymphocytes with cytotoxic and suppressor activity against virus-infected cells and cancer cells. The overall potential of NK cells has brought them to the spotlight of targeted immunotherapy in solid and hematological malignancies, including multiple myeloma (MM). Nonetheless, NK cells are subjected to a variety of cancer defense mechanisms, leading to impaired maturation, chemotaxis, target recognition, and killing. This review aims to summarize the available and most current knowledge about cancer-related impairment of NK cell function occurring in MM.


1993 ◽  
Vol 178 (3) ◽  
pp. 961-969 ◽  
Author(s):  
M S Malnati ◽  
P Lusso ◽  
E Ciccone ◽  
A Moretta ◽  
L Moretta ◽  
...  

Natural killer (NK) cells provide a first line of defense against viral infections. The mechanisms by which NK cells recognize and eliminate infected cells are still largely unknown. To test whether target cell elements contribute to NK cell recognition of virus-infected cells, human NK cells were cloned from two unrelated donors and assayed for their ability to kill normal autologous or allogeneic cells before and after infection by human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), a T-lymphotropic herpesvirus. Of 132 NK clones isolated from donor 1, all displayed strong cytolytic activity against the NK-sensitive cell line K562, none killed uninfected autologous T cells, and 65 (49%) killed autologous T cells infected with HHV-6. A panel of representative NK clones from donors 1 and 2 was tested on targets obtained from four donors. A wide heterogeneity was observed in the specificity of lysis of infected target cells among the NK clones. Some clones killed none, some killed only one, and others killed more than one of the different HHV-6-infected target cells. Killing of infected targets was not due to complete absence of class I molecules because class I surface levels were only partially affected by HHV-6 infection. Thus, target cell recognition is not controlled by the effector NK cell alone, but also by polymorphic elements on the target cell that restrict NK cell recognition. Furthermore, NK clones from different donors display a variable range of specificities in their recognition of infected target cells.


2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (6) ◽  
pp. 3123-3137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin C. Chen ◽  
Richard J. Stanton ◽  
Jareer J. Banat ◽  
Mark R. Wills

ABSTRACTImmune responses of natural killer (NK) cell are controlled by the balance between activating and inhibitory receptors, but the expression of these receptors varies between cells within an individual. Although NK cells are a component of the innate immune system, particular NK cell subsets expressing Ly49H are positively selected and increase in frequency in response to cytomegalovirus infection in mice. Recent evidence suggests that in humans certain NK subsets also have an increased frequency in the blood of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-infected individuals. However, whether these subsets differ in their capacity of direct control of HCMV-infected cells remains unclear. In this study, we developed a novelin vitroassay to assess whether human NK cell subsets have differential abilities to inhibit HCMV growth and dissemination. NK cells expressing or lacking NKG2C did not display any differences in controlling viral dissemination. However, whenin vitro-expanded NK cells were used, cells expressing or lacking the inhibitory receptor leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor 1 (LIR1) were differentially able to control dissemination. Surprisingly, the ability of LIR1+NK cells to control virus spread differed between HCMV viral strains, and this phenomenon was dependent on amino acid sequences within the viral ligand UL18. Together, the results here outline anin vitrotechnique to compare the long-term immune responses of different human NK cell subsets and suggest, for the first time, that phenotypically defined human NK cell subsets may differentially recognize HCMV infections.IMPORTANCEHCMV infection is ubiquitous in most populations; it is not cleared by the host after primary infection but persists for life. The innate and adaptive immune systems control the spread of virus, for which natural killer (NK) cells play a pivotal role. NK cells can respond to HCMV infection by rapid, short-term, nonspecific innate responses, but evidence from murine studies suggested that NK cells may display long-term, memory-like responses to murine cytomegalovirus infection. In this study, we developed a new assay that examines human NK cell subsets that have been suggested to play a long-term memory-like response to HCMV infection. We show that changes in an HCMV viral protein that interacts with an NK cell receptor can change the ability of NK cell subsets to control HCMV while the acquisition of another receptor has no effect on virus control.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 2706-2706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shivani Srivastava ◽  
Hailin Feng ◽  
Shuhong Zhang ◽  
Jing Liang ◽  
Patrick Squiban ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 2706 Poster Board II-682 Follicular lymphoma is incurable with the current chemo- or chemoimmunotherapy with median survival of 8–12 years. Relapse free survival after each subsequent therapy steadily decreases, resulting in an expected median survival of 4.5 years following initial relapse. Hence new treatment strategies are needed. Natural killer (NK) cells are important effector cells in mediating the anti-lymphoma effect of rituximab. Indeed, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) is a major mechanisms of action of rituximab with NK cells being important effector cells. However, in addition to ADCC, NK cells also exert natural cytotoxicity against tumor cells, which is modulated by a balance of inhibitory and activating signals through NK cell receptors. NK cell function is inhibited when their inhibitory killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) are ligated by their cognate MHC class I antigens on tumor targets. The novel agent IPH2101 (1-7F9) is a fully human monoclonal antibody directed against KIR2DL receptor that blocks the interaction of KIR with its HLA-C ligands breaking NK cell tolerance to autologous tumor cells. We investigated whether the combination of the IPH2101and Rituximab will augment the NK cell mediated cytotoxicity against CD20+ lymphoma targets as compared to rituximab alone. Raji cells are human CD20+ Burkitt lymphoma cell line cells that expresses HLA-A*03,- (ligand to inhibitory KIR3DL2); -B*71[Bw6] (no inhibitory KIR-Ligand) and -Cw*03,w*04 (group 1 and 2 of HLA-C ligands to inhibitory KIR2DL2/3 and KIR2DL1), and were chosen for study because they have HLA-C antigens that ligate the inhibitory KIR2DL2/3 and KIR2DLI receptors, making them a good target to test our hypothesis of inhibiting inhibitory KIR. NK cells were isolated from normal donor PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) with the Miltenyi NK isolation Kit. Using LDH release based cytotoxicity assay, we show (Figure 1) that the treatment of target Raji cells with Rituximab significantly enhanced natural cytotoxicity of the purified NK cells against Raji cells. IPH2101alone treatment of NK cells also significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of Raji cells, however, the combination of IPH2101treated NK cells against Rituximab treated Raji cells significantly enhanced cytotoxicity beyond that observed with each agent alone. Effector: Target (E:T) ratios of 14:1 or less, from more than 5 random donors showed similar results indicating a synergistic, or at least and additive effect ( representative experiment shown Figure 1) . In these experiments purified NK cells were treated with 30ug/ml of IPH2101for 30 min and Raji targets were treated with 0.1-30ug/ml of Rituximab for 30 min. NK cells in the presence or absence of IPH2101were co-cultured with Raji cells in the presence or absence of Rituximab for 4 hour in a 96 well plate. NK cytotoxicity was assessed with an LDH release based assay. Our results suggest that there is a positive cooperation between natural cytotoxicity mediated through KIR-MHC blockade and that mediated by ADCC. Indeed, wee have shown that the blockade of KIR-MHC class I interaction by anti-KIR blocking antibody (IPH2101) augments the cytotoxicity of freshly isolated normal donor NK cells against CD20+ lymphoma cell lines as compared to rituximab alone, providing a rationale for the clinical investigation of the combination of IPH2101 (1-7F9) and rituximab in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Disclosures: Squiban: Innate pharma: Employment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina S. Burrack ◽  
Geoffrey T. Hart ◽  
Sara E. Hamilton

Abstract Natural killer (NK) cells are important innate effector cells that are well described in their ability to kill virally-infected cells and tumors. However, there is increasing appreciation for the role of NK cells in the control of other pathogens, including intracellular parasites such as Plasmodium, the cause of malaria. NK cells may be beneficial during the early phase of Plasmodium infection—prior to the activation and expansion of antigen-specific T cells—through cooperation with myeloid cells to produce inflammatory cytokines like IFNγ. Recent work has defined how Plasmodium can activate NK cells to respond with natural cytotoxicity, and inhibit the growth of parasites via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity mechanisms (ADCC). A specialized subset of adaptive NK cells that are negative for the Fc receptor γ chain have enhanced ADCC function and correlate with protection from malaria. Additionally, production of the regulatory cytokine IL-10 by NK cells prevents overt pathology and death during experimental cerebral malaria. Now that conditional NK cell mouse models have been developed, previous studies need to be reevaluated in the context of what is now known about other immune populations with similarity to NK cells (i.e., NKT cells and type I innate lymphoid cells). This brief review summarizes recent findings which support the potentially beneficial roles of NK cells during Plasmodium infection in mice and humans. Also highlighted are how the actions of NK cells can be explored using new experimental strategies, and the potential to harness NK cell function in vaccination regimens.


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