Activation of Natural Killer (NK) T Cells during Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection Enhances the Antiviral Response Mediated by NK Cells

NK1.1(+) T (NKT) cells are efficient regulators of early host responses which have been shown to play a role in tumor surveillance. The relevance of NKT cells in immune surveillance of viral infections, however, is not well understood. In this study, we investigated the functional relevance of NKT cells in controlling herpesvirus infections by using challenge with murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) as the study model. This model has proven to be one of the best systems for evaluating the role of NK cells during virus infection. Using gene-targeted mice and α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) as an exogenous stimulator of NKT cells, we have analyzed the role of these cells in the immune surveillance of MCMV infection. Our studies in NKT-cell-deficient, T-cell receptor Jα281 gene-targeted mice have established that classical NKT cells do not play a critical role in the early clearance of MCMV infection. Importantly, however, activation of NKT cells by α-GalCer resulted in reduced viral replication in visceral organs. Depletion studies, coupled with analysis of gene-targeted mice lacking perforin and gamma interferon (IFN-γ), have revealed that the antiviral effects of α-GalCer involve NK cells and have clearly demonstrated that the antiviral activity of α-GalCer, unlike the antitumor one, is critically dependent on both perforin and IFN-γ

The roles of interferon-γ and perforin in antiviral immunity in mice that differ in genetically determined NK-cell-mediated antiviral activity

The design of effective antiviral immunotherapies depends on a detailed understanding of the cellular and molecular processes involved in generating and maintaining immune responses. Control of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection requires the concerted activities of both innate and adaptive immune effectors. In the mouse, immunity to acute murine CMV (MCMV) infection depends on natural killer (NK) cells and/or CD8 T cells. The relative importance of NK and CD8 T cells varies in different mouse strains. In C57BL/6 mice, early viral infection is controlled by Ly49H NK cells, whereas in BALB/c mice, CD8 T cells exert the principal antiviral activities. Although the role of NK and CD8 T cells is defined, the molecular mechanisms they utilize to limit acute infection are poorly understood. Here, we define the specific roles of perforin (pfp) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in the context of NK- or T-cell-mediated immunity to MCMV during acute infection. We show that pfp is essential for both NK- and T-cell-mediated antiviral immunity during the early stages of infection. The relative importance of IFN-γ is more pronounced in Ly49H mice. Using BALB/c background mice congenic for Ly49H and lacking pfp, we show that Ly49H-regulated NK-cell control of MCMV infection is dependent on pfp-mediated cytolysis

Interaction between conventional dendritic cells and natural killer cells is integral to the activation of effective antiviral immunity

Dendritic cells (DCs) regulate various aspects of innate immunity, including natural killer (NK) cell function. Here we define the mechanisms involved in DC - NK cell interactions during viral infection. NK cells were efficiently activated by murine cytomegalovirus ( MCMV) - infected CD11b(+) DCs. NK cell cytotoxicity required interferon-alpha and interactions between the NKG2D activating receptor and NKG2D ligand, whereas the production of interferon-gamma by NK cells relied mainly on DC-derived interleukin 18. Although Toll-like receptor 9 contributes to antiviral immunity, we found that signaling pathways independent of Toll-like receptor 9 were important in generating immune responses to MCMV, including the production of interferon-alpha and the induction of NK cell cytotoxicity. Notably, adoptive transfer of MCMV-activated CD11b(+) DCs resulted in improved control of MCMV infection, indicating that these cells participate in controlling viral replication in vivo