CMV reactivation initiates long-term expansion and differentiation of the NK cell repertoire.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

NK cells play an important role in suppression of viral replication and are critical for effective control of persistent infections such as herpesviruses. Cytomegalovirus infection is associated with expansion of 'adaptive-memory' NK cells with a characteristic CD56dimCD16bright NKG2C+ phenotype but the mechanisms by which this population is maintained remain uncertain.

Methods

We studied NK cell reconstitution in patients undergoing haemopoietic stem cell transplantation and related this to CMV reactivation.

Results

NK cells expanded in the early post-transplant period but then remained stable in the absence of viral reactivation. However, CMV reactivation led to a rapid and sustained 10-fold increase in NK cell number. The proportion of NKG2C-expressing

SUBMITTER: Hassan N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9753568 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature