biostudies-literatureHassan NCancer Research UKMedical Research CouncilBlood Cancer UKNational Institute for Health Research (NIHR)935949https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9753568biostudies-literatureUnknown13<h4>Introduction</h4>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.<h4>Methods</h4>We studied NK cell reconstitution in patients undergoing haemopoietic stem cell transplantation and related this to CMV reactivation.<h4>Results</h4>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-expressingFrontiers in immunologyCMV reactivation initiates long-term expansion and differentiation of the NK cell repertoire.PMC97535682943012052CL-2015-09-001NF-SI-0617-10163MR/R011230/1Hassan NKinsella FEldershaw SZuo JMoss PCraddock CStephens CMalladi RfalseCMV reactivation initiates long-term expansion and differentiation of the NK cell repertoire.<h4>Introduction</h4>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.<h4>Methods</h4>We studied NK cell reconstitution in patients undergoing haemopoietic stem cell transplantation and related this to CMV reactivation.<h4>Results</h4>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-expressing2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222026-07-14T16:04:00.378Z2025-04-04T19:49:31.834ZS-EPMC97535683653199410.3389/fimmu.2022.935949