The Impact of Ly49-NK Cell-Dependent Recognition of MCMV Infection on Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses
Figure 2
Different regulatory roles of Ly49H+ NK cells in adaptive immune responses. (a) Ly49H+ NK cells rapidly control viral replication and protect cDCs from MCMV infection. This allows for rapid recruitment and priming of CD8+ T cells and reduces viral and self-immunopathology. (i) Interaction of NK cells with MCMV-infected conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) induces the former’s proliferation and cytotoxicity via IFN-α/β or secretion of IFN-γ via IL-12/IL-18. (ii) Ly49H+ NK killing of infected cDCs will also reduce the priming of CD4+/CD8+ T cells and dampen the ensuing adaptive immune responses; NK cells will produce IL-10, which will limit excessive CD8+ T cell responses, thus reducing immunopathology. (b) Schematic representation of NK cell proliferative responses upon primary and secondary MCMV infections. ↑: increase, ↓: decrease.
