Individual NK cell clones lyse both tumor cell targets and herpes simplex virus-infected fibroblasts in the absence of interferon

Bracing NK cell based therapy to relegate pulmonary inflammation in COVID-19

The contagiosity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has startled mankind and has brought our lives to a standstill. The treatment focused mainly on repurposed immunomodulatory and antiviral agents along with the availability of a few vaccines for prophylaxis to vanquish COVID-19. This seemingly mandates a deeper understanding of the disease pathogenesis. This necessitates a plausible extrapolation of cell-based therapy to COVID-19 and is regarded equivalently significant. Recently, correlative pieces of clinical evidence reported a robust decline in lymphocyte count in severe COVID-19 patients that suggest dysregulated immune responses as a key element contributing to the pathophysiological alterations. The large granular lymphocytes also known as natural killer (NK) cells play a heterogeneous role in biological functioning wherein their frontline action defends the body against a wide array of infections and tumors. They prominently play a critical role in viral clearance and executing immuno-modulatory activities. Accumulated clinical evidence demonstrate a decrease in the number of NK cells in circulation with or without phenotypical exhaustion. These plausibly contribute to the progression of pulmonary inflammation in COVID-19 pneumonia and result in acute lung injury. In this review, we have outlined the present understanding of the immunological response of NK cells in COVID-19 infection. We have also discussed the possible use of these powerful biological cells as a therapeutic agent in view of preventing immunological harms of SARS-CoV-2 and the current challenges in advocating NK cell therapy for the same.

Transient natural killer deficiency in a boy with herpes simplex virus-associated recurrent erythema multiforme

Erythema multiforme is characterized by itching macules, papules and bullae, symmetrically distributed on the dorsum of the hands. They can follow the administration of several drugs or infections with various agents, and in particular with herpes simplex virus. The recurrent variant is very rare, especially in the paediatric age group. We describe the case of a male adolescent with recurrent erythema multiforme caused by herpes virus and transient natural killer deficiency.

Establishment of latent herpes simplex virus type 1 infection in resistant, sensitive, and immunodeficient mouse strains

Productive infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 is limited by both innate and adaptive immune mechanisms. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether these mechanisms also play a role in the establishment of latent HSV infection. First we examined the trigeminal ganglia (TG) of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), interferon-gamma knockout (GKO), and beige (a strain deficient in natural killer cell activity) mice following ocular inoculation with HSV. Although infection of SCID mice was invariably lethal, we consistently found latently infected neurons in the TG of these animals at 2-4 days postinoculation. HSV infection of GKO and beige mice, while not lethal, was characterized by a greater number of productively infected TG neurons and/or a delay in the time to peak productive infection compared to C57BL/6 controls. However, as assayed by both in situ hybridization for LAT expression and quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) for viral DNA, we found that HSV established a latent infection in GKO and beige mice as efficiently as in C57BL/6 controls. We subsequently examined the TG of "HSV-sensitive" strains of mice (Swiss-Webster, CBA, and BALB/c) following ocular infection with HSV. At the peak of acute ganglionic infection the number of productively infected TG neurons in each of these mouse strains was about sevenfold greater than in the "HSV-resistant" strain C57BL/6, consistent with previously reported differences in susceptibility to lethal challenge with HSV. However, as assayed by both in situ hybridization for LAT and Q-PCR for viral DNA, we found that HSV established a latent infection in Swiss-Webster, CBA, and BALB/c mice as efficiently as in C57BL/6 controls. We conclude that HSV efficiently establishes latent infection in the TG of mice in the absence of innate and adaptive immune mechanisms that are essential for limiting productive viral infection.

Interleukin-15 as an Activator of Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Antiviral Response

Natural killer (NK) cells are large granular lymphocytes capable of efficient killing of virus-infected and tumor cells in a major histocompatibility complex-independent manner. The cytotoxic killing potential of NK cells can be modulated by a variety of factors, including cytokines such as interleukin-12 (IL-12), IL-15, and interferon (IFN). IL-15 also plays an important role in NK cell development and survival. Killing of virally infected cells by NK cells is likely to represent an important antiviral defense mechanism, especially during the early phase of infection when antigen-specific immunity has yet to be generated. In the present work, we studied the potential of IL-15 to act as a modulator of NK cell-mediated antiviral defense. Our results clearly indicate that IL-15 can curtail infections by 3 human herpesviruses: Herpes simplex virus type 1, Epstein-Barr virus, and human herpesvirus 6. The antiviral activity of IL-15 is dose-, time-, and NK cell-dependent. IL-15–treated NK cells showed an increased killing potential against a variety of cells, including virus-infected target cells. Lastly, using highly purified cell population, we report that IL-15 triggers the synthesis of IFN-γ from both CD4+ and NK cells, which can act in both autocrine and paracrine fashion to modulate NK cells cytotoxic potential. In conclusion, IL-15 is a cytokine that can contribute to the establishment of an antiviral state in 2 ways: first by increasing the killing ability of NK cells and second by stimulating the synthesis and secretion of IFN.

Interleukin-15 as an Activator of Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Antiviral Response

Natural killer (NK) cells are large granular lymphocytes capable of efficient killing of virus-infected and tumor cells in a major histocompatibility complex-independent manner. The cytotoxic killing potential of NK cells can be modulated by a variety of factors, including cytokines such as interleukin-12 (IL-12), IL-15, and interferon (IFN). IL-15 also plays an important role in NK cell development and survival. Killing of virally infected cells by NK cells is likely to represent an important antiviral defense mechanism, especially during the early phase of infection when antigen-specific immunity has yet to be generated. In the present work, we studied the potential of IL-15 to act as a modulator of NK cell-mediated antiviral defense. Our results clearly indicate that IL-15 can curtail infections by 3 human herpesviruses: Herpes simplex virus type 1, Epstein-Barr virus, and human herpesvirus 6. The antiviral activity of IL-15 is dose-, time-, and NK cell-dependent. IL-15–treated NK cells showed an increased killing potential against a variety of cells, including virus-infected target cells. Lastly, using highly purified cell population, we report that IL-15 triggers the synthesis of IFN-γ from both CD4+ and NK cells, which can act in both autocrine and paracrine fashion to modulate NK cells cytotoxic potential. In conclusion, IL-15 is a cytokine that can contribute to the establishment of an antiviral state in 2 ways: first by increasing the killing ability of NK cells and second by stimulating the synthesis and secretion of IFN.

Inefficient protection of human TAP-deficient fibroblasts from autologous NK cell-mediated lysis by cytokines inducing HLA class I expression

We studied HLA class I expression and susceptibility to lysis of activated autologous NK cells in normal and TAP-deficient fibroblasts. These cells were cultured in the presence or absence of cytokines known to increase the surface expression of HLA class I molecules. All the cytokines tested (IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma + TNF-alpha) increased the expression of HLA class I molecules on fibroblasts after 48-h culture, but on TAP-deficient cells this expression remained very low as compared to that of normal cells. In the presence of IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma or IFN-gamma + TNF-alpha, normal target cells became resistant to lysis by autologous NK cells, whereas this effect was much less pronounced in the case of TAP-deficient fibroblasts. Addition of an anti-HLA class I mAb to fibroblasts treated with cytokines increased lysis of normal but not of TAP-deficient cells. These results suggest that activated TAP-deficient NK cells are strongly cytotoxic to normal autologous cells and that these cells cannot be efficiently protected by cytokines inducing HLA class I expression. Thus, in human TAP deficiency, activated NK cells may contribute to the progressive lung degradation which characterizes the clinical course of these patients.

Tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-2, and interferon-gamma in adult varicella

Adult varicella can be a severe illness complicated by pneumonia, encephalitis, or prolonged fever. This study measured levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interferon gamma (IFN-G) in a consecutive group of 31 adult varicella patients presenting within 24 hours of rash onset. All cytokines were assayed using an ELISA technique. TNF-alpha was detectable in 71% of patients with a mean level of 52 pg/ml. IL-2 was detectable in 29% with a mean level of 1040 pg/ml. IFN-gamma was detectable in only 9%. There was no correlation between TNF, IL-2, or IFN-G level and clinical severity as determined by duration and severity of cutaneous findings, duration of fever, frequency of hepatitis, or thrombocytopenia.