NKp44 receptor mediates interaction of the envelope glycoproteins from the West Nile and dengue viruses with NK cells.

ABSTRACT: Dengue virus (DV) and West Nile virus (WNV) have become a global concern due to their widespread distribution and their ability to cause a variety of human diseases. Antiviral immune defenses involve NK cells. In the present study, we investigated the interaction between NK cells and these two flaviviruses. We show that the NK-activating receptor NKp44 is involved in virally mediated NK activation through direct interaction with the flavivirus envelope protein. Recombinant NKp44 directly binds to purified DV and WNV envelope proteins and specifically to domain III of WNV envelope protein; it also binds to WNV virus-like particles. These WNV-virus-like particles and WNV-domain III of WNV envelope protein directly bind NK cells expressing high levels of NKp44. Functionally, interaction of NK

SUBMITTER: Hershkovitz O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2768489 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature