CD94-NKG2A receptors regulate antiviral CD8(+) T cell responses

Nat Immunol. 2002 Feb;3(2):189-95. doi: 10.1038/ni757. Epub 2002 Jan 22.

Abstract

CD8(+) T lymphocytes mediate immunosurveillance against persistent virus infections and virus-induced neoplasia. Polyoma virus, a highly oncogenic natural mouse DNA virus, establishes persistent infection, but only a few mice are highly susceptible to tumors induced by the virus. Mature antiviral CD8(+) T cells expand in tumor-susceptible mice, but their cytotoxic effector activity is nonfunctional in vivo. Here we show that the natural killer cell inhibitory receptor, CD94-NKG2A, is up-regulated by antiviral CD8(+) T cells during acute polyoma infection and is responsible for down-regulating their antigen-specific cytotoxicity during both viral clearance and virus-induced oncogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cell Transformation, Viral
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Immunologic Surveillance
  • Lectins, C-Type*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Mice, Inbred CBA
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D
  • Polyomavirus Infections / immunology*
  • Receptors, Immunologic / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Natural Killer Cell
  • Tumor Virus Infections / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Klrc1 protein, mouse
  • Klrd1 protein, mouse
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • Receptors, Natural Killer Cell