Cutting Edge: NKG2ChiCD57+ NK Cells Respond Specifically to Acute Infection with Cytomegalovirus and Not Epstein–Barr Virus

Abstract CMV induces the expansion of a unique subset of human NK cells expressing high levels of the activating CD94-NKG2C receptor that persist after control of the infection. We investigated whether this subset is CMV specific or is also responsive to acute infection with EBV. We describe a longi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of immunology (1950) 2014-05, Vol.192 (10), p.4492-4496
Main Authors: Hendricks, Deborah W., Balfour, Henry H., Dunmire, Samantha K., Schmeling, David O., Hogquist, Kristin A., Lanier, Lewis L.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Abstract CMV induces the expansion of a unique subset of human NK cells expressing high levels of the activating CD94-NKG2C receptor that persist after control of the infection. We investigated whether this subset is CMV specific or is also responsive to acute infection with EBV. We describe a longitudinal study of CMV− and CMV+ students who were acutely infected with EBV. The NKG2Chi NK subset was not expanded by EBV infection. However, EBV infection caused a decrease in the absolute number of immature CD56brightCD16− NK cells in the blood and, in CMV+ individuals, induced an increased frequency of mature CD56dimNKG2A+CD57+ NK cells in the blood that persisted into latency. These results provide further evidence that NKG2C+ NK cells are CMV specific and suggest that EBV infection alters the repertoire of NK cells in the blood.
ISSN:0022-1767
1550-6606
DOI:10.4049/jimmunol.1303211