Natural killer (NK) and NK-like cells at mucosal epithelia: Mediators of anti-microbial defense and maintenance of tissue integrity

Fuchs, Anja; Colonna, Marco

doi:10.1556/eujmi.1.2011.4.1

Cited by 22 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 89 publications

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“…Markers expressed by the different subsets of NK cells are described in Table 1. We do not discuss the intestine as it has been covered extensively in other reviews [24–26]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phenotype and functions of conventional and non-conventional NK cells

Erick

Brossay

2016

Current Opinion in Immunology

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“…Markers expressed by the different subsets of NK cells are described in Table 1. We do not discuss the intestine as it has been covered extensively in other reviews [24–26]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phenotype and functions of conventional and non-conventional NK cells

Erick

Brossay

2016

Current Opinion in Immunology

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“…Among peripheral tissues, the lung contains the largest percentage of NK cells, indicating potential crucial involvement of NK cells in respiratory infections (22). Indeed, NK cells have been implicated in early defense against several viral (respiratory syncytial virus [RSV] and influenza) and bacterial (Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Bordetella pertussis) pathogens that cause pneumonia (23)(24)(25). NK cells may participate in defense against respiratory pathogens via various mechanisms, including direct lysis of infected cells, production of chemokines that amplify the host's inflammatory response, production of antiviral cytokines, such as IFN-␥ and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF), and activation of DCs that mediate T cell differentiation and trafficking to the lung (23,26).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural Killer Cells and Innate Interferon Gamma Participate in the Host Defense against Respiratory Vaccinia Virus Infection

Abboud

Tahiliani

Desai

et al. 2016

J Virol

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In establishing a respiratory infection, vaccinia virus (VACV) initially replicates in airway epithelial cells before spreading to secondary sites of infection, mainly the draining lymph nodes, spleen, gastrointestinal tract, and reproductive organs. We recently reported that interferon gamma (IFN-␥) produced by CD8 T cells ultimately controls this disseminated infection, but the relative contribution of IFN-␥ early in infection is unknown. Investigating the role of innate immune cells, we found that the frequency of natural killer (NK) cells in the lung increased dramatically between days 1 and 4 postinfection with VACV. Lung NK cells displayed an activated cell surface phenotype and were the primary source of IFN-␥ prior to the arrival of CD8 T cells. In the presence of an intact CD8 T cell compartment, depletion of NK cells resulted in increased lung viral load at the time of peak disease severity but had no effect on eventual viral clearance, disease symptoms, or survival. In sharp contrast, RAG ؊/؊ mice devoid of T cells failed to control VACV and succumbed to infection despite a marked increase in NK cells in the lung. Supporting an innate immune role for NK cell-derived IFN-␥, we found that NK cell-depleted or IFN-␥-depleted RAG ؊/؊ mice displayed increased lung VACV titers and dissemination to ovaries and a significantly shorter mean time to death compared to untreated NK cell-competent RAG ؊/؊ controls. Together, these findings demonstrate a role for IFN-␥ in aspects of both the innate and adaptive immune response to VACV and highlight the importance of NK cells in T cell-independent control of VACV in the respiratory tract. IMPORTANCEHerein, we provide the first systematic evaluation of natural killer (NK) cell function in the lung after infection with vaccinia virus, a member of the Poxviridae family. The respiratory tract is an important mucosal site for entry of many human pathogens, including poxviruses, but precisely how our immune system defends the lung against these invaders remains unclear. Natural killer cells are a type of cytotoxic lymphocyte and part of our innate immune system. In recent years, NK cells have received increasing levels of attention following the discovery that different tissues contain specific subsets of NK cells with distinctive phenotypes and function. They are abundant in the lung, but their role in defense against respiratory viruses is poorly understood. What this study demonstrates is that NK cells are recruited, activated, and contribute to protection of the lung during a severe respiratory infection with vaccinia virus.

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“…cells, which capture, process and present antigens, express lymphocyte co-stimulatory molecules, and secrete cytokines to initiate immune responses (Banchereau and Steinman, 1998). Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that play important roles in the defence against microbial pathogens, which have been described in mucosal-associated lymphoid tissues, such as in the intestinal and lung mucosa, the human tonsil and as well as Peyer's patches (Fuchs and Colonna, 2011;Gregoire et al, 2007;Shi et al, 2011). Macrophages phagocytose or engulf cellular debris and pathogens, and digest them, then present the antigen of the pathogen to the corresponding helper T cell (Davies et al, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%