NK-cell receptors NKp46 and NCR1 control human metapneumovirus infection

Mohammad Diab, Ariella Glasner, Batya Isaacson, Yotam Bar-On, Yaron Drori, Rachel Yamin, Alexandra Duev-Cohen, Oded Danziger, Rachel Zamostiano, Michal Mandelboim, Stipan Jonjic, Eran Bacharach, Ofer Mandelboim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cells are capable of killing various pathogens upon stimulation of activating receptors. Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a respiratory virus, which was discovered in 2001 and is responsible for acute respiratory tract infection in infants and children worldwide. HMPV infection is very common, infecting around 70% of all children under the age of five. Under immune suppressive conditions, HMPV infection can be fatal. Not much is known on how NK cells respond to HMPV. In this study, using reporter assays and NK-cell cytotoxicity assays performed with human and mouse NK cells, we demonstrated that the NKp46-activating receptor and its mouse orthologue Ncr1, both members of the natural cytotoxicity receptor (NCR) family, recognized an unknown ligand expressed by HMPV-infected human cells. We demonstrated that MHC class I is upregulated and MICA is downregulated upon HMPV infection. We also characterized mouse NK-cell phenotype in the blood and the lungs of HMPV-infected mice and found that lung NK cells are more activated and expressing NKG2D, CD43, CD27, KLRG1, and CD69 compared to blood NK cells regardless of HMPV infection. Finally, we demonstrated, using Ncr1-deficient mice, that NCR1 plays a critical role in controlling HMPV infection.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)692-703
Number of pages12
JournalEuropean Journal of Immunology
Volume47
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Apr 2017

Keywords

  • HMPV
  • MHC class I
  • MICA
  • NCR1
  • NCRs
  • NK cells
  • NKG2D
  • NKp46
  • respiratory infection

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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