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

Roles of natural killer cells in antiviral immunity

Stephen N Waggoner  1 , Seth D Reighard  2 , Ivayla E Gyurova  3 , Stacey A Cranert  4 , Sarah E Mahl  4 , Erik P Karmele  4 , Jonathan P McNally  4 , Michael T Moran  5 , Taylor R Brooks  4 , Fazeela Yaqoob  5 , Carolyn E Rydyznski  5
Affiliations
Review

Roles of natural killer cells in antiviral immunity

Stephen N Waggoner et al. Curr Opin Virol. 2016 Feb.

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.

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Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Figure 1
Figure 1
Contributions of NK cells to antiviral immunity. NK cells have the potential to (a) recognize and kill virus-infected cells or release antiviral pro-inflammatory cytokines that can inhibit virus replication. These activities can be protective, but can also contribute to (b) pathological damage of host tissues. Inflammation and viral antigens can also trigger the development of (c) long-lived memory NK cells that may protect against reinfection or prevent viral reactivation from latency. By contrast, (d) NK cell promotion or inhibition of adaptive immune cells (e.g. T and B cells) or other innate cells (e.g. dendritic cells) can shape the overall immune response against the virus which can have consequences for (e) viral control, disease pathogenesis, and infection outcome.
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References

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