Recognition of haemagglutinins on virus-infected cells by NKp46 activates lysis by human NK cells

Natural killer (NK) cells destroy virus-infected and tumour cells, apparently without the need for previous antigen stimulation. In part, target cells are recognized by their diminished expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules, which normally interact with inhibitory receptors on the NK cell surface. NK cells also express triggering receptors that are specific for non-MHC ligands; but the nature of the ligands recognized on target cells is undefined. NKp46 is thought to be the main activating receptor for human NK cells. Here we show that a soluble NKp46-immunoglobulin fusion protein binds to both the haemagglutinin of influenza virus and the haemagglutinin-neuraminidase of parainfluenza virus. In a substantial subset of NK cells, recognition by NKp46 is required to lyse cells expressing the corresponding viral glycoproteins. The binding requires the sialylation of NKp46 oligosaccharides, which is consistent with the known sialic binding capacity of the viral glycoproteins. These findings indicate how NKp46-expressing NK cells may recognize target cells infected by influenza or parainfluenza without the decreased expression of target-cell MHC class I protein.     

KIR expression on self-reactive CD8+ T cells is controlled by T-cell receptor engagement

Natural killer cell tolerance is maintained by the interaction of killer inhibitory receptors (KIRs) with self-major histocompatibility complex class I gene products. A subset of T cells also expresses inhibitory receptors, but the functional significance of these receptors on T cells is unclear. Here we show that, in the absence of T-cell receptor (TCR) engagement, KIRs expressed on CD8+ T cells are slowly downregulated by KIR ligands expressed on antigen-presenting cells. The resulting expression levels of KIR are no longer able to inhibit T-cell function. In contrast, TCR engagement sustains KIR expression, and re-induces functional levels of KIR expression after ligand-induced downregulation of KIR. Our data indicate that KIR expression on CD8+ T cells in vivo may be maintained through continuous encounters with antigen. As KIR-mediated inhibition of T-cell activation can be bypassed at high antigen concentrations, dynamic KIR expression may mediate T-cell tolerance to self-antigens by sparing self-reactive T cells, thus enabling them to mediate potentially useful immune functions to quantitatively or qualitatively different antigens.     

Natural killer cells act as rheostats modulating antiviral T cells

Antiviral T cells are thought to regulate whether hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections result in viral control, asymptomatic persistence or severe disease, although the reasons for these different outcomes remain unclear. Recent genetic evidence, however, has indicated a correlation between certain natural killer (NK)-cell receptors and progression of both HIV and HCV infection, implying that NK cells have a role in these T-cell-associated diseases. Although direct NK-cell-mediated lysis of virus-infected cells may contribute to antiviral defence during some virus infections--especially murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infections in mice and perhaps HIV in humans--NK cells have also been suspected of having immunoregulatory functions. For instance, NK cells may indirectly regulate T-cell responses by lysing MCMV-infected antigen-presenting cells. In contrast to MCMV, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection in mice seems to be resistant to any direct antiviral effects of NK cells. Here we examine the roles of NK cells in regulating T-cell-dependent viral persistence and immunopathology in mice infected with LCMV, an established model for HIV and HCV infections in humans. We describe a three-way interaction, whereby activated NK cells cytolytically eliminate activated CD4 T cells that affect CD8 T-cell function and exhaustion. At high virus doses, NK cells prevented fatal pathology while enabling T-cell exhaustion and viral persistence, but at medium doses NK cells paradoxically facilitated lethal T-cell-mediated pathology. Thus, NK cells can act as rheostats, regulating CD4 T-cell-mediated support for the antiviral CD8 T cells that control viral pathogenesis and persistence.     

A human natural killer cell subset provides an innate source of IL-22 for mucosal immunity

Natural killer (NK) cells are classically viewed as lymphocytes that provide innate surveillance against virally infected cells and tumour cells through the release of cytolytic mediators and interferon (IFN)-gamma. In humans, blood CD56(dim) NK cells specialize in the lysis of cell targets. In the lymph nodes, CD56(bright) NK cells secrete IFN-gamma cooperating with dendritic cells and T cells in the generation of adaptive responses. Here we report the characterization of a human NK cell subset located in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues, such as tonsils and Peyer's patches, which is hard-wired to secrete interleukin (IL)-22, IL-26 and leukaemia inhibitory factor. These NK cells, which we refer to as NK-22 cells, are triggered by acute exposure to IL-23. In vitro, NK-22-secreted cytokines stimulate epithelial cells to secrete IL-10, proliferate and express a variety of mitogenic and anti-apoptotic molecules. NK-22 cells are also found in mouse mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues and appear in the small intestine lamina propria during bacterial infection, suggesting that NK-22 cells provide an innate source of IL-22 that may help constrain inflammation and protect mucosal sites.     

Gene rearrangement in cells with natural killer activity and expression of the beta-chain of the T-cell antigen receptor

The mammalian host defence system can be divided broadly into adaptive and non-adaptive immunity. Adaptive immunity is acquired and is mediated by B and T lymphocytes. Non-adaptive immunity is mediated in part by a small subclass of heterogeneous peripheral blood mononuclear cells. This population, termed null cells, consists of haematopoietic precursors and cells mediating natural killer (NK) activity and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). NK cells are a class of non-adherent, non-phagocytic, rapidly cytotoxic lymphocytes which can efficiently lyse a wide variety of tumour cells, virally infected cells and immature cell types of normal origin. Despite the broad range of targets, only a limited number of specificities are thought to be involved in target-cell recognition. Morphologically, NK cells are large granular lymphocytes, but they have been shown to exhibit cell-surface markers characteristic of both T cells and monocytes, raising doubt over their lineage. The recent cloning of the beta-chain of the T-cell antigen receptor has now allowed us to investigate whether some NK cells are T-cell-related. We have examined rearrangement and expression of the beta-chain of the T-cell receptor in cloned murine NK cell lines and fresh murine NK cell populations, and our results support the hypothesis that a subpopulation of NK cells is related to T cells and provide basis for examining whether some NK activity is mediated by a small number of T-cell receptors.     

Inhibition of HIV replication by pokeweed antiviral protein targeted to CD4+ cells by monoclonal antibodies

Functional impairment and selective depletion of CD4+ T cells, the hallmark of AIDS, are at least partly caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) type 1 binding to the CD4 molecule and infecting CD4+ cells. It may, therefore, be of therapeutic value to target an antiviral agent to CD4+ cells to prevent infection and to inhibit HIV-1 production in patients' CD4+ cells which contain proviral DNA. We report here that HIV-1 replication in normal primary CD4+ T cells can be inhibited by pokeweed antiviral protein, a plant protein of relative molecular mass 30,000, which inhibits replication of certain plant RNA viruses, and of herpes simplex virus, poliovirus and influenza virus. Targeting pokeweed antiviral protein to CD4+ T cells by conjugating it to monoclonal antibodies reactive with CD5, CD7 or CD4 expressed on CD4+ cells, increased its anti-HIV potency up to 1,000-fold. HIV-1 replication is inhibited at picomolar concentrations of conjugates of pokeweed antiviral protein and monoclonal antibodies, which do not inhibit proliferation of normal CD4+ T cells or CD4-dependent responses. These conjugates inhibit HIV-1 protein synthesis and also strongly inhibit HIV-1 production in activated CD4+ T cells from infected patients.     

Licensing of natural killer cells by host major histocompatibility complex class I molecules

Self versus non-self discrimination is a central theme in biology from plants to vertebrates, and is particularly relevant for lymphocytes that express receptors capable of recognizing self-tissues and foreign invaders. Comprising the third largest lymphocyte population, natural killer (NK) cells recognize and kill cellular targets and produce pro-inflammatory cytokines. These potentially self-destructive effector functions can be controlled by inhibitory receptors for the polymorphic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules that are ubiquitously expressed on target cells. However, inhibitory receptors are not uniformly expressed on NK cells, and are germline-encoded by a set of polymorphic genes that segregate independently from MHC genes. Therefore, how NK-cell self-tolerance arises in vivo is poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that NK cells acquire functional competence through 'licensing' by self-MHC molecules. Licensing involves a positive role for MHC-specific inhibitory receptors and requires the cytoplasmic inhibitory motif originally identified in effector responses. This process results in two types of self-tolerant NK cells--licensed or unlicensed--and may provide new insights for exploiting NK cells in immunotherapy. This self-tolerance mechanism may be more broadly applicable within the vertebrate immune system because related germline-encoded inhibitory receptors are widely expressed on other immune cells.     

Atomic structure of a human MHC molecule presenting an influenza virus peptide.

Infection by influenza virus results in the stimulation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for killing virally infected cells. Specificity is provided by clonally distributed, hypervariable T-cell receptors on cytotoxic T lymphocytes which react with peptide fragments that are derived from viral proteins expressed in the cytoplasm and 'presented' on the surface of infected cells, bound to class I histocompatibility glycoproteins. Here we describe the structure of the complex between the human class I histocompatibility glycoprotein HLA-Aw68 and the influenza virus nucleoprotein peptide Np 91-99 as determined by X-ray cryocrystallography. Residues at both ends of the peptide are substantially buried in the peptide binding-site, whereas those in the middle of the peptide, P4 to P8, are predominantly exposed and could be recognized directly by T-cell receptors. The extended conformation of the bound viral peptide is remarkably similar to that of a collection of endogenous peptides with a different sequence motif bound to another human allele, HLA-B27. The structure defines in atomic detail the antigenic surface constructed of major histocompatibility complex and viral peptide atoms that is recognized by T-cell receptors.     

Critical role of Toll-like receptor signaling in NK cell activation

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and NK cell receptors are the most important receptor superfamilies in innate immunity. TLRs act as the sensor of external pathogens, while NK cells detect alterations in endogenous protein expression on target cells through activating and inhibitory receptors. Accumulating data has demonstrated that TLRs and NK cell receptors can coordinate and regulate each other during immune responses, which contributes to the initiation of innate response and the priming of adaptive responses. TLRs can activate NK cell function directly or with the help of accessory cells in a cytokine or cell-to-cell contact dependent manner. More understanding of the recognition of innate receptors and interactions between them may provide important insights into the design of effective strategies to combat tumor and microbial infections. In this review, we summarize how TLRs and NK cells discriminate the self or non-self components respectively. And importantly, we pay more attention to the role of TLR sig-naling in induction of NK cell activation, responses and the crosstalk between them.     

HIV-1 Nef inhibits ASK1-dependent death signalling providing a potential mechanism for protecting the infected host cell

In vivo infection of lymphatic tissues by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) leads to enhanced apoptosis, which prominently involves uninfected bystander cells. Increased killing of such bystander cells is mediated in part through Nef induction of Fas ligand (FasL) expression on the surface of the virally infected T cells. The subsequent interaction of FasL with Fas (CD95) displayed on neighbouring cells, including HIV-1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes, may lead to bystander cell killing and thus forms an important mechanism of immune evasion. As HIV-1 also enhances Fas expression on virally infected cells, it is unclear how these hosts avoid rapid cell-autonomous apoptosis mediated through cis ligation of Fas by FasL. Here we show that HIV-1 Nef associates with and inhibits apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1), a serine/threonine kinase that forms a common and key signalling intermediate in the Fas and tumour-necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) death-signalling pathways. The interaction of Nef with ASK1 inhibits both Fas- and TNFalpha-mediated apoptosis, as well as the activation of the downstream c-Jun amino-terminal kinase. Our findings reveal a strategy by which HIV-1 Nef promotes the killing of bystander cells through the induction of FasL, while simultaneously protecting the HIV-1-infected host cell from these same pro-apoptotic signals through its interference with ASK1 function.     

Tetherin inhibits retrovirus release and is antagonized by HIV-1 Vpu

Human cells possess an antiviral activity that inhibits the release of retrovirus particles, and other enveloped virus particles, and is antagonized by the HIV-1 accessory protein, Vpu. This antiviral activity can be constitutively expressed or induced by interferon-alpha, and it consists of protein-based tethers, which we term 'tetherins', that cause retention of fully formed virions on infected cell surfaces. Using deductive constraints and gene expression analyses, we identify CD317 (also called BST2 or HM1.24), a membrane protein of previously unknown function, as a tetherin. Specifically, CD317 expression correlated with, and induced, a requirement for Vpu during HIV-1 and murine leukaemia virus particle release. Furthermore, in cells where HIV-1 virion release requires Vpu expression, depletion of CD317 abolished this requirement. CD317 caused retention of virions on cell surfaces and, after endocytosis, in CD317-positive compartments. Vpu co-localized with CD317 and inhibited these effects. Inhibition of Vpu function and consequent mobilization of tetherin's antiviral activity is a potential therapeutic strategy in HIV/AIDS.     

Superantigen implicated in dependence of HIV-1 replication in T cells on TCR V beta expression.

In the pathogenesis of AIDS it is not yet understood whether the small fraction of CD4+ T cells (approximately 1%) infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are randomly targeted or not. Here we present evidence that human CD4 T-cell lines expressing selected T-cell antigen receptor V beta gene products can all be infected in vitro with HIV-1, but give markedly different titres of HIV-1 virion production. For example, V beta 12 T-cell lines from several unrelated donors reproducibly yielded up to 100-fold more gag gene product (p24gag antigen) than V beta 6.7a lines. This is consistent with a superantigen effect, because the V beta selectivity was observed with several divergent HIV-1 isolates, was dependent on antigen-presenting cells and on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II but was not MHC class II-restricted. The in vivo significance of these findings is supported by the preferential stimulation of V beta 12+ T cells by freshly obtained irradiated antigen-presenting cells from some HIV-1-seropositive but not HIV-1-negative donors. Moreover, cells from patients positive for viral antigen (gp120) were enriched in the V beta 12 subpopulation. V beta 12+ T cells were not deleted in AIDS patients, however, raising the possibility that a variety of mechanisms contribute to T-cell depletion. Our results indicate that a superantigen targets a subpopulation of CD4+ cells for viral replication.     

Innate immune recognition and regulation in liver injury: A brief report from a series of studies

The discovery of innate immune receptors and the emergence of liver immunology （high content of NK and NKT cells in liver） led to the second research summit in innate immunity since the finding of NK cells in the middle 1970s. Liver disease is one of the most dangerous threats to humans, and the progress in innate immunology and liver immunology made it possible to re-explain the cellular and mo- lecular immune mechanisms of liver disease. In the past ten years, we have found that innate recognition of hepatic NK and NKT subsets were involved in murine liver injury. We established a novel NK cell-dependent acute murine hepatitis model by activating Toll-like receptor-3 （TLR-3） with an injection of poly I：C, which may mimic mild viral hepatitis （such as Chronic Hepatitis B）. We observed that a network of innate immune cells including NK, NKT and Kupffer cells is involved in liver immune injury in our established NK cell-dependent murine,model. We noted that TLR-3 on Kupffer cells activated by pretreatment with poly I： C might protect against bacterial toxin （LPS）-induced fulminant hepatitis by down-regulating TLR-4 function, while TLR-3 pre-activation of NK cells might reduce Con A-induced NKT cell-mediated fulminant hepatitis by blocking NKT cell recruitment to the liver. We also found that the oversensitivity to injury by immune stimulation in HBV （hepatitis B virus） transgenic mice （full HBV gene-tg or HBs-tg） correlated to the over-expression of Real, an NKG2D （natural killer cell group 2D） ligand of NK cells or CDld, a ligand of TCR-V14 of NKT cells, on HBV＋ hepatocytes, which leads to an innate immune response against hepatocytes and is critical in liver immune injury and regeneration.     

A cloned cell with NK function resembles basophils by ultrastructure and expresses IgE receptors

Natural killer (NK) cells are defined by their ability to lyse certain tumour cells in vitro without previous exposure to them, and have been postulated as effectors of immune surveillance against spontaneous neoplasms. Because they kill some non-neoplastic lymphoid cells, they may also have a role in immunoregulation. NK cell activity resides in a small proportion of normal mouse spleen cells (less than 5%) that have been difficult to characterize completely. They may represent a heterogeneous group of effector cells whose precise relationship to other myelopoietic or immunological cells has remained obscure. We have previously described a cloned mouse cell line (Cl. Ly 1-2-NK-1+/11) with the functional characteristics of natural killer cells activated by interferon or other factors. We now find that this cloned line, like basophils and mast cells, expresses high-affinity plasma membrane receptors (Fc epsilon R) specific for IgE antibody. In addition, the clone contains cytoplasmic granules similar by ultrastructure to those of basophils of the mouse and other species. Our findings indicate that cells sharing morphological and biochemical features of basophilic granulocytes can mediate NK lysis.     

自然杀伤细胞受体与功能的研究进展

摘要: 自然杀伤( natural killer,NK) 细胞是由多种亚类组成的淋巴细胞,具有多种不同受体,表现出多种功能,同时 具有先天性免疫细胞和后天免疫细胞,特别是杀伤性T 细胞的特性,在免疫记忆、自然杀伤、抗病毒和抗肿瘤方面 都有重要作用。本文综述了NK 细胞的分类、受体和功能的研究进展。     

Reconstitution by MHC-restricted peptides of HLA-A2 heavy chain with beta 2-microglobulin, in vitro

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes kill virally infected cells when they detect antigenic fragments presented by class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens (HLA in humans). The crystal structures of HLA-A2 and HLA-Aw68 reveal that peptide-antigen forms an integral part of the HLA structure, being retained in a prominent groove even after purification and crystallization. Here we report that the heavy chain and beta 2-microglobulin of HLA-A2, after separation and fractionation in denaturants, reassemble efficiently under renaturing conditions only in the presence of MHC-restricted peptides. A complex of heavy chain, beta 2-microglobulin, and viral peptide in the ratio 1:1:1 is formed in up to 46% yield. Reconstitution is not stimulated by either of two peptides not restricted to HLA-A2. The reconstituted complex of HLA-A2 and the influenza virus (B/Lee/40) nucleoprotein peptide, Np (85-94), crystallizes under conditions previously used to crystallize HLA-A2. Peptide-linked folding and assembly suggests mechanisms for the unusual capacity of HLA to bind many peptides of diverse sequence.     

Restoring function in exhausted CD8 T cells during chronic viral infection

Functional impairment of antigen-specific T cells is a defining characteristic of many chronic infections, but the underlying mechanisms of T-cell dysfunction are not well understood. To address this question, we analysed genes expressed in functionally impaired virus-specific CD8 T cells present in mice chronically infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), and compared these with the gene profile of functional memory CD8 T cells. Here we report that PD-1 (programmed death 1; also known as Pdcd1) was selectively upregulated by the exhausted T cells, and that in vivo administration of antibodies that blocked the interaction of this inhibitory receptor with its ligand, PD-L1 (also known as B7-H1), enhanced T-cell responses. Notably, we found that even in persistently infected mice that were lacking CD4 T-cell help, blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitory pathway had a beneficial effect on the 'helpless' CD8 T cells, restoring their ability to undergo proliferation, secrete cytokines, kill infected cells and decrease viral load. Blockade of the CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4) inhibitory pathway had no effect on either T-cell function or viral control. These studies identify a specific mechanism of T-cell exhaustion and define a potentially effective immunological strategy for the treatment of chronic viral infections.     

MHC class I alloantigen specificity of Ly-49+ IL-2-activated natural killer cells.

The molecular basis of target cell recognition by CD3- natural killer (NK) cells is poorly understood, despite the ability of NK cells to lyse specific tumour cells. In general, target cell major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen expression correlates with resistance to NK cell-mediated lysis, possibly because NK cell-surface molecules engage MHC class I antigens and consequently deliver inhibitory signals. Natural killer cell allospecificity involves the MHC class I peptide-binding cleft, and further understanding of this allospecificity should provide insight into the molecular mechanisms of NK cell recognition. The Ly-49 cell surface molecular mechanisms of NK cell recognition. The Ly-49 cell surface molecule is expressed by 20% of CD3- NK cells in C57BL/6 mice (H-2b). Here we show that C57BL/6-derived, interleukin-2-activated NK cells expressing Ly-49 do not lyse target cells displaying H-2d or H-2k despite efficient spontaneous lysis by Ly-49- effector cells. This preferential resistance correlates with expression of target cell MHC class I antigens. Transfection and expression of H-2Dd, but not H-2Kd or H-2Ld, renders a susceptible target (H-2b) resistant to Ly-49+ effector cells. The transfected resistance is abrogated by monoclonal antibodies directed against Ly-49 or the alpha 1/alpha 2 domains of H-2Dd, suggesting that Ly-49 specifically interacts with the peptide-binding domains of the MHC class I alloantigen, H-2Dd. Inasmuch as Ly-49+ effector cells cannot be stimulated to lyse H-2Dd targets, our results indicate that NK cells may possess inhibitory receptors that specifically recognize MHC class I antigens.     

Cross-dressed dendritic cells drive memory CD8+ T-cell activation after viral infection

After an infection, cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors proliferate and become effector cells by recognizing foreign peptides in the groove of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules expressed by antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Professional APCs specialized for T-cell activation acquire viral antigen either by becoming infected themselves (direct presentation) or by phagocytosis of infected cells, followed by transfer of antigen to the cytosol, processing and MHC class I loading in a process referred to as cross-presentation. An alternative way, referred to as 'cross-dressing', by which an uninfected APC could present antigen was postulated to be by the transfer of preformed peptide-MHC complexes from the surface of an infected cell to the APC without the need of further processing. Here we show that this mechanism exists and boosts the antiviral response of mouse memory CD8(+) T cells. A number of publications have demonstrated sharing of peptide-loaded MHC molecules in vitro. Our in vitro experiments demonstrate that cross-dressing APCs do not acquire peptide-MHC complexes in the form of exosomes released by donor cells. Rather, the APCs and donor cells have to contact each other for the transfer to occur. After a viral infection, we could isolate cross-dressed APCs able to present viral antigen in vitro. Furthermore, using the diphtheria toxin system to selectively eliminate APCs that could only acquire viral peptide-MHC complexes by cross-dressing, we show that such presentation can promote the expansion of resting memory T cells. Notably, naive T cells were excluded from taking part in the response. Cross-dressing is a mechanism of antigen presentation used by dendritic cells that may have a significant role in activating previously primed CD8(+) T cells.