The Impact of Ly49-NK Cell-Dependent Recognition of MCMV Infection on Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses
Figure 1
Multiple modes of Ly49-NK cell-dependent recognition of MCMV-infected cell. NK cell-dependent detection of MCMV infection occurs through different Ly49 receptors and viral proteins. (a, b) Ly49H-m157, operating in C57BL/6 mice; (c, d) Ly49P-m04:H-2Dk or Ly49G-H-2Dk, operating in MA/MyJ mice; (e, f) Inhibitory Ly49-H-2:m04, operating in BALB mice. (a, c) Triggering of the activating Ly49 receptors by their viral ligand, m157, or by their virally modified self-ligands, m04:H-2Dk, leads to NK cell cytotoxicity, proliferation, and secretion of cytokines. (b, d) The absence of these ligands prevents NK cells from recognizing and responding to infected cells. (e) However, triggering of inhibitory Ly49 receptors by virally modified self-ligands results in NK cell unresponsiveness during the infection. (f) NK cell responsiveness is restored upon infection with a deletant virus lacking the protein required for modifying self-ligands. WT MCMV: Wild-type MCMV, Δm157: MCMV lacking m157, Δm04: MCMV lacking m04, (+): activation, (-): inhibition.
