Natural killer cells generate memory-type responses to human cytomegalovirus-infected fibroblasts

Newhook, Nicholas (2018) Natural killer cells generate memory-type responses to human cytomegalovirus-infected fibroblasts. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes that selectively respond against abnormal cells. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection causes expansion of NKG2C⁺CD57⁺ NK cells in vivo and NKG2C⁺ NK cells proliferate when cultured with HCMV-infected cells. This raises the possibility of an NK-cell subset selectively responding against a specific pathogen and accruing memory. To test this possibility, we compared proliferation, natural cytotoxicity and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production of NK cells from HCMV-seropositive and HCMV-seronegative individuals co-cultured with HCMV-infected or uninfected MRC-5 cells. There was no significant difference in proliferation of NK cells from HCMV-seropositive or seronegative individuals against uninfected MRC-5 cells, but significantly more NK cells from the HCMV-seropositive groups proliferated in response to HCMV-infected MRC-5 cells. Natural cytotoxicity of NK cells against K562 cells increased following co-culture with HCMV-infected versus uninfected MRC-5 cells only for the HCMV-seropositive group. After co-culture with HCMV-infected MRC-5 cells, proliferating NK cells from HCMV-seropositive donors selectively produced IFN-γ when re-exposed to HCMV-infected MRC-5 cells. Both NKG2C⁺ and NKG2C⁻ NK cells proliferated in co-culture with HCMV-infected MRC-5 cells, with the fraction of proliferating NKG2C⁺ NK cells directly correlating with the circulating NKG2C⁺ fraction. These data illustrate an at least partly NKG2C-independent human NK-cell memory-type response against HCMV.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
URI: http://research.library.mun.ca/id/eprint/13243
Item ID: 13243
Additional Information: Includes bibliographical references (pages 63-71).
Keywords: Natural Killer Cells, NK cell memory, Cytomegalovirus, Immunology, NKG2C
Department(s): Medicine, Faculty of
Date: May 2018
Date Type: Submission
Library of Congress Subject Heading: Killer cells; Cytomegalovirus infections
Medical Subject Heading: Killer Cells, Natural; Cytomegalovirus Infections

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