Role of Natural Killer and Gamma-Delta T cells in West Nile Virus Infection

Wang, Tian; Welte, Thomas

In summary, NK cells and ï§ï¤ï€ T cells play both similar and dissimilar roles in host immunity to WNV infection (Table 2) . They both respond rapidly and non-specifically to WNV infection and control viral dissemination by secretion of IFN-ï§ï€ and/or ï€ cytolytic activity. Both cell types cross-talk with DCs during WNV infection, which results in DC maturation and NK cell activation [36, 64] . PRR-mediated innate immune signaling pathways, including those used by TLR, RLR-, or IFN, are important for regulation of NK cell and ï§ï¤ï€ T cell activation during WNV infection. Furthermore, ï§ï¤ï€ T cells regulate memory T cell development by promoting DC maturation and activation. The role of NK cells in adaptive immunity to WNV infection remained undefined. ï§ï¤ï€ T cell subsets display distinct functions in both protection and pathogenesis upon WNV infection. The role of NK cells during in vivo WNV infection is complex and sometimes paradoxical. The functional significance of NK cells in WNV susceptibility should be investigated in an organ-specific manner, with a full characterization of multiple activating and inhibitory receptors on the NK cell surface. Due to their unique role in host innate and adaptive immunity, studies of the functionality of NK cells andï€ ï§ï¤ T cells and their cross-talk with DCs will provide important insights into WNV immunotherapy and vaccine development for the potential target population.