Streptococcus pneumoniae drives specific and lasting Natural Killer cell memory.

ABSTRACT: NK cells are important mediators of innate immunity and play an essential role for host protection against infection, although their responses to bacteria are poorly understood. Recently NK cells were shown to display memory properties, as characterized by an epigenetic signature leading to a stronger secondary response. Although NK cell memory could be a promising mechanism to fight against infection, it has not been described upon bacterial infection. Using a mouse model, we reveal that NK cells develop specific and long-term memory following sub-lethal infection with the extracellular pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. Memory NK cells display intrinsic sensing and response to bacteria in vitro, in a manner that is enhanced post-bacterial infection. In addition, their transfer into naïve

SUBMITTER: Camarasa TMN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10399893 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature