Characterization of natural killer cell phenotype and function during recurrent human HSV-2 infection

PLoS One. 2011;6(11):e27664. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0027664. Epub 2011 Nov 15.

Abstract

Human natural killer (NK) cell differentiation, characterized by a loss of NKG2A in parallel with the acquisition of NKG2C, KIRs, and CD57 is stimulated by a number of virus infections, including infection with human cytomegalovirus (CMV), hantavirus, chikungunya virus, and HIV-1. Here, we addressed if HSV-2 infection in a similar way drives NK cell differentiation towards an NKG2A(-)NKG2C(+)KIR(+)CD57(+) phenotype. In contrast to infection with CMV, hantavirus, chikungunya virus, and HIV-1, recurrent HSV-2 infection did not yield an accumulation of highly differentiated NK cells in human peripheral blood. This outcome indicates that human HSV-2 infection has no significant imprinting effect on the human NK cell repertoire.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • CD57 Antigens / metabolism
  • Cell Degranulation / immunology
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Herpes Genitalis / immunology*
  • Herpes Genitalis / virology*
  • Herpesvirus 2, Human / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Killer Cells, Natural / cytology*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Receptors, KIR / metabolism
  • Recurrence

Substances

  • CD57 Antigens
  • KLRC2 protein, human
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C
  • Receptors, KIR