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CD56 Is a Pathogen Recognition Receptor on Human Natural Killer Cells

Sabrina Ziegler1, Esther Weiss1, Anna-Lena Schmitt1

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine II, WÜ4i, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.

Scientific Reports
|July 23, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Human natural killer (NK) cells combat Aspergillus (A.) fumigatus by directly interacting via the CD56 receptor. This interaction is crucial for NK cell activation and cytokine release, identifying CD56 as a key pathogen recognition receptor.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Mycology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Invasive aspergillosis (IA) poses a threat to immunocompromised patients.
  • The mechanisms of antifungal activity by human natural killer (NK) cells are not fully understood.
  • Pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) involved in NK cell response to fungi remain largely unidentified.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the cellular mechanisms and pathogen recognition receptors involved in NK cell interactions with Aspergillus (A.) fumigatus.
  • To elucidate the role of the CD56 surface receptor in NK cell-mediated antifungal immunity.

Main Methods:

  • Flow cytometry to analyze CD56 expression on NK cells.
  • Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM), and direct Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (dSTORM) to visualize NK cell-fungal interactions.
  • Cytoskeleton inhibition assays to assess the active nature of receptor reorganization.
  • Blocking of CD56 to evaluate its role in NK cell activation and cytokine production.

Main Results:

  • CD56 expression on NK cells decreased upon contact with A. fumigatus.
  • NK cells directly interact with A. fumigatus, with CD56 accumulating at the interaction site in a time-dependent manner.
  • CD56 reorganization is an active process dependent on actin cytoskeleton rearrangements.
  • Blocking CD56 reduced fungal-mediated NK cell activation and cytokine secretion.

Conclusions:

  • CD56 is directly involved in the interaction between NK cells and A. fumigatus.
  • CD56 functions as a pathogen recognition receptor (PRR) in the context of fungal infection.
  • These findings provide novel insights into the innate immune response against fungal pathogens, highlighting CD56's role in pathogen recognition.

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