Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infects Primary Neonatal and Adult Natural Killer Cells and Affects Their Antiviral Effector Function.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of severe acute lower respiratory tract infections in infants. Natural killer (NK) cells are important antiviral effector cells that likely encounter RSV in the presence of virus-specific (maternal) antibodies. As NK cells potentially contribute to immunopathology, we investigated whether RSV affects their antiviral effector functions.

Methods

We assessed the phenotype and functionality of primary neonatal and adult NK cells by flow cytometry after stimulation with RSV or RSV-antibody complexes.

Results

We demonstrate for the first time that RSV infects neonatal and adult NK cells in vitro. Preincubation of virus with subneutralizing concentrations of RSV-specific antibodies significantly increased the perc

SUBMITTER: van Erp EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6376914 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature