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Functional interactions between dendritic cells and NK cells during viral infection
Daniel M Andrews1, Anthony A Scalzo, Wayne M Yokoyama
1Department of Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Chemical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Perth, Australia.
Nature Immunology
|December 24, 2002
Summary
Natural killer (NK) cells and dendritic cells (DCs) have a reciprocal relationship during cytomegalovirus infection. NK cells maintain DCs, while DCs promote NK cell expansion via IL-18 and IL-12.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Ly49H(+)NK1.1(+) natural killer (NK) cells are crucial for controlling murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) during acute infection.
- This specific NK cell subset undergoes MCMV-specific expansion in later infection stages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction between Ly49H(+) NK cells and CD8alpha(+) dendritic cells (DCs) during MCMV infection.
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the reciprocal communication between these immune cell types.
Main Methods:
- In vivo studies utilizing murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection models.
- Analysis of immune cell populations, specifically Ly49H(+) NK cells and CD8alpha(+) DCs, in the spleen.
- Cytokine profiling, focusing on the roles of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interleukin-12 (IL-12).
Main Results:
- Ly49H(+) NK cells are essential for maintaining CD8alpha(+) DCs in the spleen during acute MCMV infection.
- CD8alpha(+) DCs are critical for the expansion of Ly49H(+) NK cells.
- This reciprocal expansion is mediated, in part, by the cytokines IL-18 and IL-12.
Conclusions:
- A significant functional interrelationship exists between dendritic cells and NK cells during viral infections like MCMV.
- This study defines key cytokines involved in the communication and expansion of these critical immune cell populations.