Inhibitory killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors strengthen CD8⁺ T cell-mediated control of HIV-1, HCV, and HTLV-1.

ABSTRACT: Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are expressed predominantly on natural killer cells, where they play a key role in the regulation of innate immune responses. Recent studies show that inhibitory KIRs can also affect adaptive T cell-mediated immunity. In mice and in human T cells in vitro, inhibitory KIR ligation enhanced CD8⁺ T cell survival. To investigate the clinical relevance of these observations, we conducted an extensive immunogenetic analysis of multiple independent cohorts of HIV-1-, hepatitis C virus (HCV)-, and human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-infected individuals in conjunction with in vitro assays of T cell survival, analysis of ex vivo KIR expression, and mathematical modeling of host-virus dynamics. Our data suggest that functional engag

SUBMITTER: Boelen L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6277004 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature