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Updated: Aug 4, 2025

Experimental Infection with Listeria monocytogenes as a Model for Studying Host Interferon-γ Responses
Published on: November 16, 2016
Natural Killer Cell-Derived Interferon-γ Regulates Macrophage-Mediated Immunopathology During Viral Infection
Emily Feng1, Jonathan K Monteiro1, Ana L Portillo1
1Department of Medicine, McMaster Immunology Research Center, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract:
Regulation of immune responses during viral infection is critical to preventing the development immunopathology that impairs host survival. Natural killer (NK) cells are well known for their antiviral functions that promote viral clearance; however, their roles in limiting immune-mediated pathology are still unclear. Using a mouse model for genital herpes simplex virus type 2 infection, we find that NK cell-derived interferon-γ directly counteracts interleukin-6-mediated matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) activity in macrophages to limit MMP-mediated tissue damage. Our findings uncover a key immunoregulatory function of NK cells during host-pathogen interactions that highlight the potential of NK cell therapy for treatment of severe viral infections.
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