Roles of natural killer cells in antiviral immunity

Curr Opin Virol. 2016 Feb:16:15-23. doi: 10.1016/j.coviro.2015.10.008. Epub 2015 Nov 16.

Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cells are important in immune defense against virus infections. This is predominantly considered a function of rapid, innate NK-cell killing of virus-infected cells. However, NK cells also prime other immune cells through the release of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and other cytokines. Additionally, NK cells share features with long-lived adaptive immune cells and can impact disease pathogenesis through the inhibition of adaptive immune responses by virus-specific T and B cells. The relative contributions of these diverse and conflicting functions of NK cells in humans are poorly defined and likely context-dependent, thereby complicating the development of therapeutic interventions. Here we focus on the contributions of NK cells to disease in diverse virus infections germane to human health.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity
  • Animals
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • Virus Diseases / immunology*
  • Virus Diseases / metabolism
  • Virus Diseases / virology*
  • Viruses / classification
  • Viruses / immunology*