Naslov
The Role of NKG2D Immunoevasion Genes During Cronic MCMV Infection

Autori
Slavuljica, Irena ; Markova-Car, Elitza Petkova ; Gašparović, Iva ; Arapović, Jurica ; Cekinović, Đurđica ; Krmpotić, Astrid ; Jonjić, Stipan

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Book of Abstracts / - , 2008

Skup
Annual Meeting of the Croatian Immunological Society

Mjesto i datum
Šibenik, Hrvatska, 09.10.2008. - 12.10.2008

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
NKG2D; MCMV; Latency

Sažetak
NKG2D is a dominant NK cell activating receptor that binds several stress induced ligands. Mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) evades NK cell activation by down-regulating the NKG2D ligands. Consequently MCMV deletion mutants missing NKG2D immunoevasion genes are tightly controlled in vivo in NK cell dependent manner. NKG2D is also a co-stimulatory receptor on CD8+ T cells which are principal effectors in the control of MCMV infection. To study the impact of NKG2D immunoevasion genes on the establishment and maintenance of latent MCMV infection, we compared the kinetics of wild type (WT) MCMV with MCMV deletion mutants missing NKG2D immunoevasion genes. WT virus had higher titer in salivary glands as compared to deletion mutants during early infection. However, WT viral titer decreased over time while deletion mutants’ viral titer increased reaching the level equal to or greater than the WT. During the late infection both WT and deletion mutants had comparable, low level viral titers. In agreement, real-time PCR showed initial, higher WT viral DNA load in blood, lungs and liver. Difference between WT and deletion mutants diminished over the course of infection resulting in similar DNA loads in the late time points. To explain observed phenomena we studied virus specific CD8+ T cell activation status (cell surface markers and IFN- production). However, no implicative differences were observed so far. Our data indicate that viral NKG2D immunoevasion genes affect both innate and adoptive immune response. Further studies are needed to define mechanisms underlying late recovery of deletion mutants lacking NKG2D immune-evasive genes.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Temeljne medicinske znanosti, Biotehnologija

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