The bone marrow functions as the central site of proliferation for long-lived NK cells.

ABSTRACT: NK cells play an important role in the early defense against invading pathogens. Although it is well established that infection leads to a substantial, local increase in NK cell numbers, little is known about the mechanisms that trigger their proliferation and migration. In this study, we investigated the dynamics of NK cell responses after intranasal respiratory virus infection. We show that NK cell numbers increased in the airways after influenza virus infection but find no evidence of proliferation either at the site of infection or in the draining lymph nodes. Instead, we find that the bone marrow (BM) is the primary site of proliferation of both immature and mature NK cells during infection. Using an adoptive transfer model, we demonstrate that peripheral, long-lived and phenotypicall

SUBMITTER: van Helden MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3427014 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature