Selective intracellular retention of virally induced NKG2D ligands by the human cytomegalovirus UL16 glycoprotein

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has evolved a multitude of molecular mechanisms to evade the antiviral immune defense of the host. Recently, using soluble recombinant molecules, the HCMV UL16 glycoprotein was shown to interact with some ligands of the activating immunoreceptor NKG2D and, therefore, may also function as a viral immunomodulator. However, the role of UL16 during the course of HCMV infection remained unclear. Here, we demonstrate that HCMV infection of fibroblasts induces expression of all known NKG2D ligands (NKG2DL). However, solely MICA and ULBP3 reach the cellular surface to engage NKG2D, whereas MICB, ULBP1 and ULBP2 are selectively retained in the endoplasmic reticulum by UL16. UL16-mediated reduction of NKG2DL cell surface density diminished NK cytotoxicity. Thus, UL16 functions by capturing activating ligands for cytotoxic lymphocytes that are synthesized in response to HCMV infection.     

白血病患者NK细胞表面NKG2D受体及其配体MICA/B的研究

目的:研究白血病患者NK细胞表面NKG2D受体及其配体MICA/B的表达,探讨白血病细胞逃逸NK细胞杀伤的机制.方法:采用流式细胞术检测NK细胞表面NKG2D受体和骨髓有核细胞表面MICA/B配体.结果:治疗前组和完全缓解组NKG2D受体的表达均较健康组低(P＜0.05);且完全缓解组低于治疗前组(P＜0.05);治疗前组和完全缓解组MICA/B配体的表达均低于增生性贫血组(P＞0.50);完全缓解组与治疗前组比较差异无显著性(P＞0.05).结论:白血病患者体内NKG2D-MICA/B介导的NK细胞功能受抑,这可能导致白血病细胞逃逸NK细胞的细胞毒作用;白血病化疗后完全缓解时其体内NKG2D-MICA/B介导的NK细胞功能仍未恢复,且较治疗前更低.     

NKG2D ligands expression patterns in gut mucosa from patients with coeliac disease

Introduction

The activating MICA/NKG2D interaction is involved in the response of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) in coeliac disease (CD). The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of NKG2D ligands (MICA, MICB), IL-15 and NKG2D receptor in gut mucosa of CD patients, and the correlation with the severity of histological damage.

Patients and methods

Intestinal biopsies from 20 CD patients and five healthy controls were selected. All patients were positive for anti-transglutaminase 2 antibodies and for DQ2 or DQ8. Patients were divided into two groups according to their grade of mucosal impairment: ten each with mild and severe mucosal damage (MMD and SMD, respectively). The expression of proposed genes was determined at mRNA level. MICA expression was also determined by immunohistochemistry.

Results

Overexpression of MICA and MICB was observed in biopsies from coeliac patients compared to healthy controls (P < 0.001). Nevertheless, the expression was considerably higher in the group of patients with MMD (P < 0.0001) than in those with SMD. The levels of NKG2D receptor and IL-15 were also higher in patients than in controls, but no relationship with the severity of the mucosal lesion was found.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that NKG2D ligands may play an important role during the onset of the inflammatory process in the early stages of the development of coeliac disease.     

活化性受体NKG2D及其配体的研究进展

NK细胞是肌体免疫系统至关重要的组成部分,其表达多种活化性和抑制性细胞表面受体。NKG2D是较为独特的活化性受体,属C型凝集素家族跨膜蛋白,分布较广,NK细胞、T细胞和其他免疫细胞都可以产生,其配体具有多样性,MHCⅠ类相关分子（MIC）是人类NKG2D识别的配体之一,应激性表达在一些肿瘤细胞或病原体感染细胞的表面。NKG2D既能直接活化NK细胞,又能以协同刺激的方式促进CD8^＋αβT细胞的活化,在抗肿瘤免疫和病毒感染等方面发挥重要作用。     

Tumor cell recognition by the NK cell activating receptor NKG2D

Evidence for increased tumor incidence in NKG2D-deficient mice has set NKG2D as the first innate immune receptor implicated in immunosurveillance of tumors. In this viewpoint article, we discuss recent genetic insight into NKG2D-mediated suppression of spontaneous tumor development in the context of NKG2D signaling properties. Moreover, we identify unresolved issues and consider how an understanding of NKG2D-receptor and -ligand biology can facilitate successful therapeutic intervention of human cancer.     

UL16 binding proteins

According to present concepts, innate immunity plays an important role in tumor surveillance and immune modulation. The state of NK cells depends on the balance between inhibitory and activating signals from corresponding receptors. As one of the activating receptors, NKG2D recognises some self ligands such as MICA/B in human and Rae1 in mice, which is dissimilar to those toll-like receptors that recognise some pathogen-derived ligands. NKG2D is expressed not only on NK cells, but on gammadelta T cells, CD8+ alphabeta T cells in normal individuals and CD4+ alphabeta T cells in rheumatoid arthritis patients and plays a different role on respective cells. Whereas NKG2D can only function as a costimulatory receptor on CD8+ alphabeta T cells under the domination of alphabeta TCR in spite of a deficiency of costimulatory molecule CD28, NKG2D can directly activate NK cells even in the presence of inhibitory signals from MHC-I and corresponding receptor complexes. Experiments in mice have identified that alternative splicing produces two distinct NKG2D polypeptides that associate differentially with the DAP10 and DAP12 signaling subunits and that differential expression of these isoforms and of signaling proteins determines whether NKG2D only functions as a costimulatory receptor in the adaptive immune system (CD8+ T cells) or as both a primary recognition unit and a costimulatory receptor in the innate immune system (natural killer cells and macrophages). This review summarizes the research achievements in a new ligand family (UL16 binding proteins) of NKG2D in human and shows the possible prospects of ULBP function and application.     

卵巢肿瘤患者自然杀伤细胞活化性受体NKG2D与其配体MICA表达的初步研究

目的:研究卵巢癌、良性卵巢肿瘤患者外周血NK细胞表面活化性受体NKG2D的表达及局部组织中相应配体MICA的表达情况,并结合临床病理因素分析探讨宿主NK细胞受体NKG2D在抗卵巢癌中的作用及其与肿瘤免疫逃逸的关系。方法:对4 2例卵巢癌、2 3例良性卵巢肿瘤及2 0例正常妇女,采用流式细胞术检测外周血NK细胞NKG2D的表达状况,RT PCR技术检测在上述部分相应组织标本中MICA的表达。结果:恶性、良性卵巢肿瘤患者及正常人外周血NK细胞NKG2D的表达水平分别为( 94 2 3±6 0 2 ) %、( 98 70±0 98) %、( 98 6 1±1 5 9) % ,恶性组与另两组之间比较,差异有统计学意义(P <0 0 5 ) ;相应配体MICA在卵巢癌组织中的表达率较良性卵巢肿瘤中明显增高,差异有统计学意义(P <0 0 1) ;在卵巢癌病人是否绝经、不同组织类型、分化程度、手术分期及是否淋巴转移等各组临床病理情况下,其表达率未见明显差异(P >0 0 5 )。结论:卵巢恶性肿瘤患者外周血NK细胞活性降低,其活化性受体NKG2D表达的下降是NK细胞活性下降的原因之一。NKG2D的配体MICA的基因表达可能与卵巢癌的恶性转化有一定的相关性,卵巢癌的免疫逃逸可能与NKG2D表达下调及其配体MI CA的表达升高有关     

NKG2D受体与白血病的免疫监视和免疫逃逸

NK细胞是机体肿瘤免疫中的第一道防线,NKG2D是NK细胞表面最强的一种活化性受体。1991年在筛选人类NK细胞的优势表达基因时被发现,也是近年来研究者较为关注和研究深入的一个受体。许多研究表明,NKG2D在白血病免疫中起着重要的作用,因而研究具有重要意义。     

抗RAET1G2单克隆抗体的研制和初步鉴定

目的:制备鼠源抗RAET1G2单克隆抗体,并对其特异性进行鉴定。方法:以原核表达的RAET1G2蛋白为抗原免疫BALB/c小鼠,运用B淋巴细胞杂交瘤技术制备抗RAET1G2单克隆抗体;用免疫双扩散方法鉴定Ig亚类;Western blot鉴定单克隆抗体的特异性。结果:获得了4株可分泌特异性抗RAET1G2抗体的杂交瘤细胞株7A11、9C6、10F9和12F8,Ig亚类均为IgG1。结论:制备的杂交瘤细胞株能稳定分泌特异性的抗RAET1G2抗体,并且所分泌的单克隆抗体都能识别天然的RAET1G蛋白,为进一步研究游离性的RAETlG2分子与肿瘤进展的关系以及分析各种肿瘤细胞表面的RAET1G表达情况创造了条件。     

Murine cytomegalovirus regulation of NKG2D ligands

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous pathogen that causes morbidity risk in immunologically suppressed and immunodeficient patients including congenital infections. Approaches to curb the consequences of HCMV infections are restricted by a lack of complete understanding of viral pathogenesis. The infection of mice with murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) as a model of HCMV infection has been particularly useful in elucidating the role of innate and adaptive immune response mechanisms. A large number of cytomegalovirus genes modulate the innate and the adaptive host immune response. The products of several MCMV genes are involved in subverting the natural killer (NK) cell response by down-modulating cellular ligands for the NKG2D receptor expressed on NK cells and CD8⁺ T cells. Mutant viruses lacking these immunoevasion genes are attenuated with respect to virus growth in vivo. Given the importance of the NKG2D receptor in controlling both NK- and T cell-mediated immunity, it is of tremendous importance to understand the molecular mechanisms and consequences of viral regulation of the NKG2D ligands.     

A dual function of NKG2D ligands in NK-cell activation

NK-cell killing requires both the expression of activating receptor ligands and low MHC class I expression by target cells. Here we demonstrate that the expression of any of the murine ligands for the NK-cell activating receptor NKG2D results in a concomitant reduction in MHC class I expression. We show this both in tumor cell lines and in vivo. NK-cell lysis is enhanced by the decrease in MHC class I expression, suggesting the change is biologically relevant. These results demonstrate that NKG2D ligand expression on target cells not only allows for activating receptor recognition, but also actively reduces expression of the inhibitory ligand, MHC class I, leading to enhanced recognition and killing by NK cells.     

NKG2D ligands: unconventional MHC class I-like molecules exploited by viruses and cancer

Our best teachers in revealing the importance of immune pathways are viruses and cancers that have subverted the most prominent pathways to escape from immune recognition. Viruses and cancer impair antigen presentation by classical MHC class I to escape adaptive immunity. The activating receptor NKG2D and its MHC class I-like ligands are other recently defined innate and adaptive immune pathways exploited by viruses and cancer. This review discusses recent advances in the understanding of how NKG2D, expressed on innate immune cells including natural killer cells, gammadelta+ T cells and macrophages, and adaptive immune cells such as CD8+ T cells, recognize stress-induced, MHC class I-like, self-ligands. Moreover, we describe how viruses and cancer have developed strategies to evade this recognition pathway.     

NKG2D in NK and T Cell-Mediated Immunity

One of the best characterized NK cell receptors is NKG2D, a highly conserved C-type lectin-like membrane glycoprotein expressed on essentially all NK cells, as well as on γδ-TcR⁺ T cells and αβ-TcR⁺ CD8⁺ T cells, in humans and mice. Here we review recent studies implicating NKG2D in T cell and NK cell-mediated immunity to viruses and tumors, and its potential role in autoimmune diseases and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.     

NKG2D及其配体在白血病免疫监视中的作用

NKG2D是免疫细胞表面的激活性受体,在机体的抗肿瘤免疫、抗感染免疫以及自身免疫病的发生中发挥重要作用。NKG2D识别肿瘤细胞表面的配体,激活效应细胞,产生有效的抗肿瘤免疫应答,是肿瘤免疫监视机制之一。近来研究发现白血病细胞表达多种NKG2D配体,参与白血病的免疫监视。本文就NKG2D及其配体对白血病免疫监视和免疫逃逸的作用作一综述。     

The activating receptor NKG2D of natural killer cells promotes resistance against enterovirus‐mediated inflammatory cardiomyopathy

In enterovirus‐induced cardiomyopathy, information regarding the detailed impact of natural killer (NK) cells on the outcome of the disease is limited. We therefore hypothesized that NK cells and certain NK cell receptors determine the different outcome of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) myocarditis. Here, we demonstrate in murine models that resistance to chronic CVB3 myocarditis in immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice is characterized by significantly more mature CD11b^high NK cells, the presence of NKG2D on NK cells, and enhanced NKG2D‐dependent cytotoxicity compared to CVB3‐susceptible A.BY/SnJ mice. The highly protective role of NKG2D in myocarditis was further proven by in vivo neutralization of NKG2D as well as in NKG2D‐deficient mice but was shown to be independent of CD8⁺ T‐cell‐dependent immunity. Moreover, the adoptive transfer of immunocompetent C57BL/6 NK cells pre‐ (day ?1) as well as post‐infectionem (day +2) displayed the potential to prevent permissive A.BY/SnJ mice from a progressive outcome of CVB3 myocarditis reflected by significantly improved cardiopathology and heart function. Altogether, our results provide firm evidence for a protective role of NKG2D‐activated NK cells in CVB3 myocarditis leading to an effective virus clearance, thus offering novel therapeutic options in the treatment of virus‐induced myocarditis. Copyright © 2014 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd     

Inosine pranobex enhances human NK cell cytotoxicity by inducing metabolic activation and NKG2D ligand expression

Inosine pranobex (IP) is a synthetic immunomodulating compound, indicated for use in the treatment of human papillomavirus-associated warts and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Previous studies demonstrate that the immunomodulatory activity of IP is characterized by enhanced lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine production, and NK cell cytotoxicity. The activation of NKG2D signaling on NK cells, CD8⁺ T cells, and γδ T cells also produces these outcomes. We hypothesized that IP alters cellular immunity through the induction of NKG2D ligand expression on target cells, thereby enhancing immune cell activation through the NKG2D receptor. We tested this hypothesis and show that exposure of target cells to IP leads to increased expression of multiple NKG2D ligands. Using both targeted metabolic interventions and unbiased metabolomic studies, we found that IP causes an increase in intracellular concentration of purine nucleotides and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates and NKG2D ligand induction. The degree of NKG2D ligand induction was functionally significant, leading to increased NKG2D-dependent target cell immunogenicity. These findings demonstrate that the immunomodulatory properties of IP are due to metabolic activation with NKG2D ligand induction.     

氧化应激可选择性诱导细胞的NKG2D配体的表达

目的 探讨氧化应激与细胞NKG2D配体表达的关系,分析氧化应激对NK细胞功能的影响。方法 加H2O2诱导培养的肿瘤细胞处于氧化应激状态。用RT-PCR、Real-time PCR和流式细胞仪等方法分析细胞多种NKG2D配体的表达。用CCK-8法检测NK92细胞对肿瘤细胞的杀伤活性。结果 氧化应激可诱导肿瘤细胞多种NKG2D配体的表达,不同的肿瘤细胞诱导表达的NKG2D配体不同;NKG2D配体表达上调可有效提高NK细胞的细胞毒活性,此效应可被抗NKG2D抗体所阻断。结论 NKG2D配体可能在机体的免疫应答中发挥正向的调节作用。     

NKG2D与NKG2DL在肺癌免疫调节中的作用及临床意义

NKG2D与NKG2DL是目前研究的热点,NKG2D可表达于几乎所有的NK细胞、CD8+αβT细胞、γδ T细胞及少量CD4+αβT细胞的细胞膜表面,与其配体NKG2DL结合后,可激活NK细胞及T细胞,诱导机体的抗肿瘤免疫应答,杀伤表达NKG2DL的肿瘤细胞,因此,NKG2D及其配体NKG2DL在肿瘤的免疫调节过程中起着极其重要的作用.目前肺癌的预后仍不容乐观,迫切需要发展一种新型的治疗方法来达到特异杀灭肿瘤细胞而不损伤或仅轻微损伤正常细胞的目的,这使得免疫疗法成为一种极具吸引力及应用前景的治疗肺癌的方法.