Contribution of NKT cells to the immune response and pathogenesis triggered by respiratory viruses.
Emma Rey-JuradoKaren BohmwaldNicolás M S GálvezDaniela BecerraSteven A PorcelliLeandro J CarreñoAlexis M KalergisPublished in: Virulence (2021)
Human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) cause acute respiratory tract infections in children worldwide. Natural killer T (NKT) cells are unconventional T lymphocytes, and their TCRs recognize glycolipids bound to the MHC-I-like molecule, CD1d. These cells modulate the inflammatory response in viral infections. Here, we evaluated the contribution of NKT cells in both hRSV and hMPV infections. A significant decrease in the number of neutrophils, eosinophils, and CD103+DCs infiltrating to the lungs, as well as an increased production of IFN-γ, were observed upon hRSV-infection in CD1d-deficient BALB/c mice, as compared to wild-type control mice. However, this effect was not observed in the CD1d-deficient BALB/c group, upon infection with hMPV. Importantly, reduced expression of CD1d in CD11b+ DCs and epithelial cells was found in hRSV -but not hMPV-infected mice. Besides, a reduction in the expression of CD1d in alveolar macrophages of lungs from hRSV- and hMPV-infected mice was found. Such reduction of CD1d expression interfered with NKT cells activation, and consequently IL-2 secretion, as characterized by in vitro experiments for both hRSV and hMPV infections. Furthermore, increased numbers of NKT cells recruited to the lungs in response to hRSV- but not hMPV-infection was detected, resulting in a reduction in the expression of IFN-γ and IL-2 by these cells. In conclusion, both hRSV and hMPV might be differently impairing NKT cells function and contributing to the immune response triggered by these viruses.
Keyphrases
- induced apoptosis
- immune response
- cell cycle arrest
- inflammatory response
- poor prognosis
- endoplasmic reticulum stress
- sars cov
- oxidative stress
- signaling pathway
- respiratory tract
- skeletal muscle
- metabolic syndrome
- adipose tissue
- type diabetes
- nk cells
- respiratory failure
- insulin resistance
- intensive care unit
- liver failure
- respiratory syncytial virus
- high fat diet induced
- acute respiratory distress syndrome