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Shegarfi H. Recognition of Listeria monocytogenes infection by natural killer cells: Towards a complete picture by experimental studies in rats. Innate Immun 2023; 29:110-121. [PMID: 37285590 PMCID: PMC10468624 DOI: 10.1177/17534259231178223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of cellular immune responses in animal disease models demands detailed knowledge of development, function, and regulation of immune cells, including natural killer (NK) cells. Listeria monocytogenes (LM) bacterium has been explored in a large area of research fields, including the host pathogen interaction. Although the importance role of NK cells in controlling the first phase of LM burden has been investigated, the interaction between NK cells and infected cells in details are far from being comprehended. From in vivo and in vitro experiments, we can drive several important pieces of knowledge that hopefully contribute to illuminating the intercommunication between LM-infected cells and NK cells. Experimental studies performed in rats revealed that certain NK cell ligands are influenced in LM-infected cells. These ligands include both classical- and non-classical MHC class I molecules and C-type lectin related (Clr) molecules that are ligands for Ly49- and NKR-P1 receptors respectively. Interaction between these receptors:ligands during LM infection, demonstrated stimulation of rat NK cells. Hence, these studies provided additional knowledge to the mechanisms NK cells utilise to recognise and respond to LM infection outlined in the current review.
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2
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Scur M, Parsons BD, Dey S, Makrigiannis AP. The diverse roles of C-type lectin-like receptors in immunity. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1126043. [PMID: 36923398 PMCID: PMC10008955 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1126043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of the C-type lectin-like receptors (CTLRs) and their functions in immunity have continued to expand from their initial roles in pathogen recognition. There are now clear examples of CTLRs acting as scavenger receptors, sensors of cell death and cell transformation, and regulators of immune responses and homeostasis. This range of function reflects an extensive diversity in the expression and signaling activity between individual CTLR members of otherwise highly conserved families. Adding to this diversity is the constant discovery of new receptor binding capabilities and receptor-ligand interactions, distinct cellular expression profiles, and receptor structures and signaling mechanisms which have expanded the defining roles of CTLRs in immunity. The natural killer cell receptors exemplify this functional diversity with growing evidence of their activity in other immune populations and tissues. Here, we broadly review select families of CTLRs encoded in the natural killer cell gene complex (NKC) highlighting key receptors that demonstrate the complex multifunctional capabilities of these proteins. We focus on recent evidence from research on the NKRP1 family of CTLRs and their interaction with the related C-type lectin (CLEC) ligands which together exhibit essential immune functions beyond their defined activity in natural killer (NK) cells. The ever-expanding evidence for the requirement of CTLR in numerous biological processes emphasizes the need to better understand the functional potential of these receptor families in immune defense and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Scur
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Brendon D Parsons
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Sayanti Dey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Andrew P Makrigiannis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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3
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Alveolar macrophage metabolic programming via a C-type lectin receptor protects against lipo-toxicity and cell death. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7272. [PMID: 36433992 PMCID: PMC9700784 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34935-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Alveolar macrophages (AM) hold lung homeostasis intact. In addition to the defense against inhaled pathogens and deleterious inflammation, AM also maintain pulmonary surfactant homeostasis, a vital lung function that prevents pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. Signals transmitted between AM and pneumocytes of the pulmonary niche coordinate these specialized functions. However, the mechanisms that guide the metabolic homeostasis of AM remain largely elusive. We show that the NK cell-associated receptor, NKR-P1B, is expressed by AM and is essential for metabolic programming. Nkrp1b-/- mice are vulnerable to pneumococcal infection due to an age-dependent collapse in the number of AM and the formation of lipid-laden AM. The AM of Nkrp1b-/- mice show increased uptake but defective metabolism of surfactant lipids. We identify a physical relay between AM and alveolar type-II pneumocytes that is dependent on pneumocyte Clr-g expression. These findings implicate the NKR-P1B:Clr-g signaling axis in AM-pneumocyte communication as being important for maintaining metabolism in AM.
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4
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Clr-f expression regulates kidney immune and metabolic homeostasis. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4834. [PMID: 35318366 PMCID: PMC8940912 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08547-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The C-type lectin-related protein, Clr-f, encoded by Clec2h in the mouse NK gene complex (NKC), is a member of a family of immune regulatory lectins that guide immune responses at distinct tissues of the body. Clr-f is highly expressed in the kidney; however, its activity in this organ is unknown. To assess the requirement for Clr-f in kidney health and function, we generated a Clr-f-deficient mouse (Clr-f−/−) by targeted deletions in the Clec2h gene. Mice lacking Clr-f exhibited glomerular and tubular lesions, immunoglobulin and C3 complement protein renal deposits, and significant abdominal and ectopic lipid accumulation. Whole kidney transcriptional profile analysis of Clr-f−/− mice at 7, 13, and 24 weeks of age revealed a dynamic dysregulation in lipid metabolic processes, stress responses, and inflammatory mediators. Examination of the immune contribution to the pathologies of Clr-f−/− mouse kidneys identified elevated IL-12 and IFNγ in cells of the tubulointerstitium, and an infiltrating population of neutrophils and T and B lymphocytes. The presence of these insults in a Rag1−/−Clr-f−/− background reveals that Clr-f−/− mice are susceptible to a T and B lymphocyte-independent renal pathogenesis. Our data reveal a role for Clr-f in the maintenance of kidney immune and metabolic homeostasis.
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5
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Host-Adapted Gene Families Involved in Murine Cytomegalovirus Immune Evasion. Viruses 2022; 14:v14010128. [PMID: 35062332 PMCID: PMC8781790 DOI: 10.3390/v14010128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) are host species-specific and have adapted to their respective mammalian hosts during co-evolution. Host-adaptation is reflected by “private genes” that have specialized in mediating virus-host interplay and have no sequence homologs in other CMV species, although biological convergence has led to analogous protein functions. They are mostly organized in gene families evolved by gene duplications and subsequent mutations. The host immune response to infection, both the innate and the adaptive immune response, is a driver of viral evolution, resulting in the acquisition of viral immune evasion proteins encoded by private gene families. As the analysis of the medically relevant human cytomegalovirus by clinical investigation in the infected human host cannot make use of designed virus and host mutagenesis, the mouse model based on murine cytomegalovirus (mCMV) has become a versatile animal model to study basic principles of in vivo virus-host interplay. Focusing on the immune evasion of the adaptive immune response by CD8+ T cells, we review here what is known about proteins of two private gene families of mCMV, the m02 and the m145 families, specifically the role of m04, m06, and m152 in viral antigen presentation during acute and latent infection.
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6
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Kalousková B, Skořepa O, Cmunt D, Abreu C, Krejčová K, Bláha J, Sieglová I, Král V, Fábry M, Pola R, Pechar M, Vaněk O. Tumor Marker B7-H6 Bound to the Coiled Coil Peptide-Polymer Conjugate Enables Targeted Therapy by Activating Human Natural Killer Cells. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9111597. [PMID: 34829829 PMCID: PMC8615638 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9111597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted cancer immunotherapy is a promising tool for restoring immune surveillance and eradicating cancer cells. Hydrophilic polymers modified with coiled coil peptide tags can be used as universal carriers designed for cell-specific delivery of such biologically active proteins. Here, we describe the preparation of pHPMA-based copolymer conjugated with immunologically active protein B7-H6 via complementary coiled coil VAALEKE (peptide E) and VAALKEK (peptide K) sequences. Receptor B7-H6 was described as a binding partner of NKp30, and its expression has been proven for various tumor cell lines. The binding of B7-H6 to NKp30 activates NK cells and results in Fas ligand or granzyme-mediated apoptosis of target tumor cells. In this work, we optimized the expression of coiled coil tagged B7-H6, its ability to bind activating receptor NKp30 has been confirmed by isothermal titration calorimetry, and the binding stoichiometry of prepared chimeric biopolymer has been characterized by analytical ultracentrifugation. Furthermore, this coiled coil B7-H6-loaded polymer conjugate activates NK cells in vitro and, in combination with coiled coil scFv, enables their targeting towards a model tumor cell line. Prepared chimeric biopolymer represents a promising precursor for targeted cancer immunotherapy by activating the cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Kalousková
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 2030, 12840 Prague, Czech Republic; (B.K.); (O.S.); (D.C.); (C.A.); (K.K.); (J.B.)
| | - Ondřej Skořepa
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 2030, 12840 Prague, Czech Republic; (B.K.); (O.S.); (D.C.); (C.A.); (K.K.); (J.B.)
| | - Denis Cmunt
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 2030, 12840 Prague, Czech Republic; (B.K.); (O.S.); (D.C.); (C.A.); (K.K.); (J.B.)
| | - Celeste Abreu
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 2030, 12840 Prague, Czech Republic; (B.K.); (O.S.); (D.C.); (C.A.); (K.K.); (J.B.)
| | - Kateřina Krejčová
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 2030, 12840 Prague, Czech Republic; (B.K.); (O.S.); (D.C.); (C.A.); (K.K.); (J.B.)
| | - Jan Bláha
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 2030, 12840 Prague, Czech Republic; (B.K.); (O.S.); (D.C.); (C.A.); (K.K.); (J.B.)
| | - Irena Sieglová
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic; (I.S.); (V.K.); (M.F.)
| | - Vlastimil Král
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic; (I.S.); (V.K.); (M.F.)
| | - Milan Fábry
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic; (I.S.); (V.K.); (M.F.)
| | - Robert Pola
- Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Heyrovského nám. 2, 16206 Prague, Czech Republic; (R.P.); (M.P.)
| | - Michal Pechar
- Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Heyrovského nám. 2, 16206 Prague, Czech Republic; (R.P.); (M.P.)
| | - Ondřej Vaněk
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 2030, 12840 Prague, Czech Republic; (B.K.); (O.S.); (D.C.); (C.A.); (K.K.); (J.B.)
- Correspondence:
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7
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Piersma SJ, Brizić I. Natural killer cell effector functions in antiviral defense. FEBS J 2021; 289:3982-3999. [PMID: 34125493 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells involved in the control of tumors and viral infections. They provide protection by producing cytokines and by directly lysing target cells. Both effector mechanisms have been identified to contribute to viral control, depending on the context of infection. Activation of NK cells depends on the integration of signals received by cytokine receptors and activation and inhibitory receptors recognizing ligands expressed by virus-infected cells. While the control of viral infections by NK cells is well established, the signals perceived by NK cells and how these signals integrate to mediate optimal viral control have been focus of ongoing research. Here, we discuss the current knowledge on NK cell activation and integration of signals that lead to interferon gamma production and cytotoxicity in viral infections. We review NK cell interactions with viruses, with particular focus on murine cytomegalovirus studies, which helped elucidate crucial aspects of antiviral NK cell immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sytse J Piersma
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ilija Brizić
- Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia
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8
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Aguilar OA, Tanaka M, Balaji GR, Berry R, Rossjohn J, Lanier LL, Carlyle JR. Tetramer Immunization and Selection Followed by CELLISA Screening to Generate Monoclonal Antibodies against the Mouse Cytomegalovirus m12 Immunoevasin. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 205:1709-1717. [PMID: 32817368 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The generation of reliable mAb of unique and desired specificities serves as a valuable technology to study protein expression and function. However, standard approaches to mAb generation usually involve large-scale protein purification and intensive screening. In this study, we describe an optimized high-throughput proof-of-principle method for the expanded generation, enrichment, and screening of mouse hybridomas secreting mAb specific for a protein of interest. Briefly, we demonstrate that small amounts of a biotinylated protein of interest can be used to generate tetramers for use as prime-boost immunogens, followed by selective enrichment of Ag-specific B cells by magnetic sorting using the same tetramers prior to hybridoma generation. This serves two purposes: 1) to effectively expand both low- and high-affinity B cells specific for the antigenic bait during immunization and 2) to minimize subsequent laborious hybridoma efforts by positive selection of Ag-specific, Ab-secreting cells prior to hybridoma fusion and validation screening. Finally, we employ a rapid and inexpensive screening technology, CELLISA, a high-throughput validation method that uses a chimeric Ag fused to the CD3ζ signaling domain expressed on enzyme-generating reporter cells; these reporters can detect specific mAb in hybridoma supernatants via plate-bound Ab-capture arrays, thereby easing screening. Using this strategy, we generated and characterized novel mouse mAb specific for a viral immunoevasin, the mouse CMV m12 protein, and suggest that these mAb may protect mice from CMV infection via passive immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar A Aguilar
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada; .,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143.,Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Miho Tanaka
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Gautham R Balaji
- Infection and Immunity Program, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia; and
| | - Richard Berry
- Infection and Immunity Program, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia; and
| | - Jamie Rossjohn
- Infection and Immunity Program, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia; and.,Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Lewis L Lanier
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143.,Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - James R Carlyle
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada;
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9
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Abstract
The continuous interactions between host and pathogens during their coevolution have shaped both the immune system and the countermeasures used by pathogens. Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that are considered central players in the antiviral response. Not only do they express a variety of inhibitory and activating receptors to discriminate and eliminate target cells but they can also produce immunoregulatory cytokines to alert the immune system. Reciprocally, several unrelated viruses including cytomegalovirus, human immunodeficiency virus, influenza virus, and dengue virus have evolved a multitude of mechanisms to evade NK cell function, such as the targeting of pathways for NK cell receptors and their ligands, apoptosis, and cytokine-mediated signaling. The studies discussed in this article provide further insights into the antiviral function of NK cells and the pathways involved, their constituent proteins, and ways in which they could be manipulated for host benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Mancini
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0C7, Canada;,
- McGill University Research Centre on Complex Traits, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Silvia M. Vidal
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0C7, Canada;,
- McGill University Research Centre on Complex Traits, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 0B1, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H4A 3J1, Canada
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10
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Mouse Cytomegalovirus m153 Protein Stabilizes Expression of the Inhibitory NKR-P1B Ligand Clr-b. J Virol 2019; 94:JVI.01220-19. [PMID: 31597762 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01220-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are a subset of innate lymphoid cells (ILC) capable of recognizing stressed and infected cells through multiple germ line-encoded receptor-ligand interactions. Missing-self recognition involves NK cell sensing of the loss of host-encoded inhibitory ligands on target cells, including MHC class I (MHC-I) molecules and other MHC-I-independent ligands. Mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection promotes a rapid host-mediated loss of the inhibitory NKR-P1B ligand Clr-b (encoded by Clec2d) on infected cells. Here we provide evidence that an MCMV m145 family member, m153, functions to stabilize cell surface Clr-b during MCMV infection. Ectopic expression of m153 in fibroblasts augments Clr-b cell surface levels. Moreover, infections using m153-deficient MCMV mutants (Δm144-m158 and Δm153) show an accelerated and exacerbated Clr-b downregulation. Importantly, enhanced loss of Clr-b during Δm153 mutant infection reverts to wild-type levels upon exogenous m153 complementation in fibroblasts. While the effects of m153 on Clr-b levels are independent of Clec2d transcription, imaging experiments revealed that the m153 and Clr-b proteins only minimally colocalize within the same subcellular compartments, and tagged versions of the proteins were refractory to coimmunoprecipitation under mild-detergent conditions. Surprisingly, the Δm153 mutant possesses enhanced virulence in vivo, independent of both Clr-b and NKR-P1B, suggesting that m153 potentially targets additional host factors. Nevertheless, the present data highlight a unique mechanism by which MCMV modulates NK ligand expression.IMPORTANCE Cytomegaloviruses are betaherpesviruses that in immunocompromised individuals can lead to severe pathologies. These viruses encode various gene products that serve to evade innate immune recognition. NK cells are among the first immune cells that respond to CMV infection and use germ line-encoded NK cell receptors (NKR) to distinguish healthy from virus-infected cells. One such axis that plays a critical role in NK recognition involves the inhibitory NKR-P1B receptor, which engages the host ligand Clr-b, a molecule commonly lost on stressed cells ("missing-self"). In this study, we discovered that mouse CMV utilizes the m153 glycoprotein to circumvent host-mediated Clr-b downregulation, in order to evade NK recognition. These results highlight a novel MCMV-mediated immune evasion strategy.
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11
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Production of recombinant soluble dimeric C-type lectin-like receptors of rat natural killer cells. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17836. [PMID: 31780667 PMCID: PMC6882821 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52114-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Working at the border between innate and adaptive immunity, natural killer (NK) cells play a key role in the immune system by protecting healthy cells and by eliminating malignantly transformed, stressed or virally infected cells. NK cell recognition of a target cell is mediated by a receptor “zipper” consisting of various activating and inhibitory receptors, including C-type lectin-like receptors. Among this major group of receptors, two of the largest rodent receptor families are the NKR-P1 and the Clr receptor families. Although these families have been shown to encode receptor-ligand pairs involved in MHC-independent self-nonself discrimination and are a target for immune evasion by tumour cells and viruses, structural mechanisms of their mutual recognition remain less well characterized. Therefore, we developed a non-viral eukaryotic expression system based on transient transfection of suspension-adapted human embryonic kidney 293 cells to produce soluble native disulphide dimers of NK cell C-type lectin-like receptor ectodomains. The expression system was optimized using green fluorescent protein and secreted alkaline phosphatase, easily quantifiable markers of recombinant protein production. We describe an application of this approach to the recombinant protein production and characterization of native rat NKR-P1B and Clr-11 proteins suitable for further structural and functional studies.
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12
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Berry R, Watson GM, Jonjic S, Degli-Esposti MA, Rossjohn J. Modulation of innate and adaptive immunity by cytomegaloviruses. Nat Rev Immunol 2019; 20:113-127. [PMID: 31666730 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-019-0225-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The coordinated activities of innate and adaptive immunity are critical for effective protection against viruses. To counter this, some viruses have evolved sophisticated strategies to circumvent immune cell recognition. In particular, cytomegaloviruses encode large arsenals of molecules that seek to subvert T cell and natural killer cell function via a remarkable array of mechanisms. Consequently, these 'immunoevasins' play a fundamental role in shaping the nature of the immune system by driving the evolution of new immune receptors and recognition mechanisms. Here, we review the diverse strategies adopted by cytomegaloviruses to target immune pathways and outline the host's response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Berry
- Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. .,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. .,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Gabrielle M Watson
- Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stipan Jonjic
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Mariapia A Degli-Esposti
- Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.,Centre for Experimental Immunology, Lions Eye Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jamie Rossjohn
- Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.,Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK
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13
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Železnjak J, Lisnić VJ, Popović B, Lisnić B, Babić M, Halenius A, L'Hernault A, Roviš TL, Hengel H, Erhard F, Redwood AJ, Vidal SM, Dölken L, Krmpotić A, Jonjić S. The complex of MCMV proteins and MHC class I evades NK cell control and drives the evolution of virus-specific activating Ly49 receptors. J Exp Med 2019; 216:1809-1827. [PMID: 31142589 PMCID: PMC6683999 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20182213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Železnjak et al. demonstrate that two MCMV-encoded proteins interact with MHC I molecules, forming an altered-self complex that prevents missing self recognition by increasing specificity for inhibitory Ly49 receptors. This led to the evolution of CMV-specific activating Ly49s. CMVs efficiently target MHC I molecules to avoid recognition by cytotoxic T cells. However, the lack of MHC I on the cell surface renders the infected cell susceptible to NK cell killing upon missing self recognition. To counter this, mouse CMV (MCMV) rescues some MHC I molecules to engage inhibitory Ly49 receptors. Here we identify a new viral protein, MATp1, that is essential for MHC I surface rescue. Rescued altered-self MHC I molecules show increased affinity to inhibitory Ly49 receptors, resulting in inhibition of NK cells despite substantially reduced MHC I surface levels. This enables the virus to evade recognition by licensed NK cells. During evolution, this novel viral immune evasion mechanism could have prompted the development of activating NK cell receptors that are specific for MATp1-modified altered-self MHC I molecules. Our study solves a long-standing conundrum of how MCMV avoids recognition by NK cells, unravels a fundamental new viral immune evasion mechanism, and demonstrates how this forced the evolution of virus-specific activating MHC I–restricted Ly49 receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Železnjak
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.,Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Vanda Juranić Lisnić
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.,Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Branka Popović
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Berislav Lisnić
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.,Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Marina Babić
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.,Innate Immunity, German Rheumatism Research Centre, a Leibniz Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anne Halenius
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Anne L'Hernault
- Precision Medicine and Genomics, Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Tihana Lenac Roviš
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.,Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Hartmut Hengel
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Florian Erhard
- Institute of Virology and Immunobiology, Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alec J Redwood
- Institute for Respiratory Health, University of Western Australia, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Silvia M Vidal
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,McGill Center for Complex Traits, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Lars Dölken
- Institute of Virology and Immunobiology, Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Astrid Krmpotić
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Stipan Jonjić
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia .,Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
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14
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Hernychová L, Rosůlek M, Kádek A, Mareška V, Chmelík J, Adámková L, Grobárová V, Šebesta O, Kukačka Z, Skála K, Spiwok V, Černý J, Novák P. The C-type lectin-like receptor Nkrp1b: Structural proteomics reveals features affecting protein conformation and interactions. J Proteomics 2019; 196:162-172. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2018.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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15
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Balaji GR, Aguilar OA, Tanaka M, Shingu-Vazquez MA, Fu Z, Gully BS, Lanier LL, Carlyle JR, Rossjohn J, Berry R. Recognition of host Clr-b by the inhibitory NKR-P1B receptor provides a basis for missing-self recognition. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4623. [PMID: 30397201 PMCID: PMC6218473 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06989-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The interaction between natural killer (NK) cell inhibitory receptors and their cognate ligands constitutes a key mechanism by which healthy tissues are protected from NK cell-mediated lysis. However, self-ligand recognition remains poorly understood within the prototypical NKR-P1 receptor family. Here we report the structure of the inhibitory NKR-P1B receptor bound to its cognate host ligand, Clr-b. NKR-P1B and Clr-b interact via a head-to-head docking mode through an interface that includes a large array of polar interactions. NKR-P1B:Clr-b recognition is extremely sensitive to mutations at the heterodimeric interface, with most mutations severely impacting both Clr-b binding and NKR-P1B receptor function to implicate a low affinity interaction. Within the structure, two NKR-P1B:Clr-b complexes are cross-linked by a non-classic NKR-P1B homodimer, and the disruption of homodimer formation abrogates Clr-b recognition. These data provide an insight into a fundamental missing-self recognition system and suggest an avidity-based mechanism underpins NKR-P1B receptor function.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Carrier Proteins
- Crystallography, X-Ray
- HEK293 Cells
- Humans
- Lectins, C-Type/chemistry
- Lectins, C-Type/genetics
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Models, Molecular
- Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
- Mutation
- NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B/chemistry
- NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B/genetics
- Protein Conformation
- Protein Conformation, alpha-Helical
- Protein Domains
- Receptors, Immunologic/chemistry
- Receptors, Immunologic/genetics
- Receptors, Natural Killer Cell/chemistry
- Receptors, Natural Killer Cell/genetics
- X-Ray Diffraction
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Affiliation(s)
- Gautham R Balaji
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Oscar A Aguilar
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Miho Tanaka
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Miguel A Shingu-Vazquez
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Zhihui Fu
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Benjamin S Gully
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Lewis L Lanier
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - James R Carlyle
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.
| | - Jamie Rossjohn
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK.
| | - Richard Berry
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
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16
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Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in the host response against viral infections and cancer development. They are able to kill virus-infected and tumor cells, and they produce different important cytokines that stimulate the antiviral and antitumor adaptive immune response, particularly interferon gamma. NK cells are of particular importance in herpesvirus infections, which is illustrated by systemic and life-threatening herpesvirus disease symptoms in patients with deficiencies in NK cell activity and by the myriad of reports describing herpesvirus NK cell evasion strategies. The latter is particularly obvious for cytomegaloviruses, but increasing evidence indicates that most, if not all, members of the herpesvirus family suppress NK cell activity to some extent. This review discusses the different NK cell evasion strategies described for herpesviruses and how this knowledge may translate to clinical applications.
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17
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Tanaka M, Fine JH, Kirkham CL, Aguilar OA, Belcheva A, Martin A, Ketela T, Moffat J, Allan DSJ, Carlyle JR. The Inhibitory NKR-P1B:Clr-b Recognition Axis Facilitates Detection of Oncogenic Transformation and Cancer Immunosurveillance. Cancer Res 2018; 78:3589-3603. [PMID: 29691253 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-1688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Revised: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells express receptors specific for MHC class I (MHC-I) molecules involved in "missing-self" recognition of cancer and virus-infected cells. Here we elucidate the role of MHC-I-independent NKR-P1B:Clr-b interactions in the detection of oncogenic transformation by NK cells. Ras oncogene overexpression was found to promote a real-time loss of Clr-b on mouse fibroblasts and leukemia cells, mediated in part via the Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K pathways. Ras-driven Clr-b downregulation occurred at the level of the Clrb (Clec2d) promoter, nascent Clr-b transcripts, and cell surface Clr-b protein, in turn promoting missing-self recognition via the NKR-P1B inhibitory receptor. Both Ras- and c-Myc-mediated Clr-b loss selectively augmented cytotoxicity of oncogene-transformed leukemia cells by NKR-P1B+ NK cells in vitro and enhanced rejection by WT mice in vivo Interestingly, genetic ablation of either one (Clr-b+/-) or two Clr-b alleles (Clr-b-/-) enhanced survival of Eμ-cMyc transgenic mice in a primary lymphoma model despite preferential rejection of Clr-b-/- hematopoietic cells previously observed following adoptive transfer into naïve wild-type mice in vivo Collectively, these findings suggest that the inhibitory NKR-P1B:Clr-b axis plays a beneficial role in innate detection of oncogenic transformation via NK-cell-mediated cancer immune surveillance, in addition to a pathologic role in the immune escape of primary lymphoma cells in Eμ-cMyc mice in vivo These results provide a model for the human NKR-P1A:LLT1 system in cancer immunosurveillance in patients with lymphoma and suggest it may represent a target for immune checkpoint therapy.Significance: A mouse model shows that an MHC-independent NK-cell recognition axis enables the detection of leukemia cells, with implications for a novel immune checkpoint therapy target in human lymphoma. Cancer Res; 78(13); 3589-603. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miho Tanaka
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jason H Fine
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christina L Kirkham
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Oscar A Aguilar
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Antoaneta Belcheva
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alberto Martin
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Troy Ketela
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Donnelly Centre and Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jason Moffat
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Donnelly Centre and Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - David S J Allan
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - James R Carlyle
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. .,Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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18
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Shegarfi H, Rolstad B, Kane KP, Nestvold J. Listeria monocytogenes infection differentially affects expression of ligands for NK cells and NK cell responses, depending on the cell type infected. J Leukoc Biol 2018; 103:591-599. [PMID: 27106671 DOI: 10.1189/jlb.2a1115-506rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2015] [Revised: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The pivotal role of NK cells in viral infection is extensively studied, whereas the role of NK cells in bacterial infection has been poorly investigated. Here, we have examined how Listeria monocytogenes (LM) affects expression of ligands for NK cell receptors and subsequent NK cell responses, depending on the type of cell infected. LM infected rat cell lines derived from different tissues were coincubated with splenic NK cells, and NK cell proliferation and IFN-γ production were measured. In addition, expression of ligands for the NK cell receptors Ly49 and NK cell receptor protein 1 (NKR-P1), MHC class I and C-type lectin-related molecules, respectively, was assessed. Infected pleural R2 cells, but not epithelium-derived colon carcinoma cell line CC531 cells, induced proliferation of NK cells. Reporter cells expressing the inhibitory NKR-P1G receptor or the activating NKR-P1F receptor were less stimulated under incubation with infected CC531 cells versus uninfected CC531 controls, suggesting that the ligand(s) in question were down-regulated by infection. Conversely, LM infection of R2 cells did not affect reporter cell stimulation compared with uninfected R2 controls. We characterized a rat monocyte cell line, termed RmW cells. In contrast to LM infected R2 cells that up-regulate MHC class I molecules, RmW cells displayed unchanged MHC class I expression following infection. In line with MHC class I expression, more NK cells produced a higher amount of IFN-γ against infected R2 cells compared with RmW cells. Together, L. monocytogenes infection may variously regulate cellular ligands for NK cells, depending on the cell type infected, affecting the outcome of NK cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Shegarfi
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Norway.,Institute for Surgical Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Atlantis Medical University College, Kolbotn, Norway
| | - Bent Rolstad
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Kevin P Kane
- Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Janne Nestvold
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Norway
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19
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Friede ME, Leibelt S, Dudziak D, Steinle A. Select Clr-g Expression on Activated Dendritic Cells Facilitates Cognate Interaction with a Minor Subset of Splenic NK Cells Expressing the Inhibitory Nkrp1g Receptor. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 200:983-996. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1701180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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20
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Goodier MR, Jonjić S, Riley EM, Juranić Lisnić V. CMV and natural killer cells: shaping the response to vaccination. Eur J Immunol 2017; 48:50-65. [PMID: 28960320 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201646762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) are highly prevalent, persistent human pathogens that not only evade but also shape our immune responses. Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in the control of CMV and CMVs have in turn developed a plethora of immunoevasion mechanisms targeting NK cells. This complex interplay can leave a long-lasting imprint on the immune system in general and affect responses toward other pathogens and vaccines. This review aims to provide an overview of NK cell biology and development, the manipulation of NK cells by CMVs and the potential impact of these evasion strategies on responses to vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin R Goodier
- Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Stipan Jonjić
- Department for Histology and Embryology and Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Eleanor M Riley
- Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Vanda Juranić Lisnić
- Department for Histology and Embryology and Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia
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21
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Aguilar OA, Berry R, Rahim MMA, Reichel JJ, Popović B, Tanaka M, Fu Z, Balaji GR, Lau TNH, Tu MM, Kirkham CL, Mahmoud AB, Mesci A, Krmpotić A, Allan DSJ, Makrigiannis AP, Jonjić S, Rossjohn J, Carlyle JR. A Viral Immunoevasin Controls Innate Immunity by Targeting the Prototypical Natural Killer Cell Receptor Family. Cell 2017; 169:58-71.e14. [PMID: 28340350 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Revised: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells play a key role in innate immunity by detecting alterations in self and non-self ligands via paired NK cell receptors (NKRs). Despite identification of numerous NKR-ligand interactions, physiological ligands for the prototypical NK1.1 orphan receptor remain elusive. Here, we identify a viral ligand for the inhibitory and activating NKR-P1 (NK1.1) receptors. This murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV)-encoded protein, m12, restrains NK cell effector function by directly engaging the inhibitory NKR-P1B receptor. However, m12 also interacts with the activating NKR-P1A/C receptors to counterbalance m12 decoy function. Structural analyses reveal that m12 sequesters a large NKR-P1 surface area via a "polar claw" mechanism. Polymorphisms in, and ablation of, the viral m12 protein and host NKR-P1B/C alleles impact NK cell responses in vivo. Thus, we identify the long-sought foreign ligand for this key immunoregulatory NKR family and reveal how it controls the evolutionary balance of immune recognition during host-pathogen interplay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar A Aguilar
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Richard Berry
- Infection and Immunity Program, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Mir Munir A Rahim
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Johanna J Reichel
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Branka Popović
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Miho Tanaka
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Zhihui Fu
- Infection and Immunity Program, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Gautham R Balaji
- Infection and Immunity Program, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Timothy N H Lau
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Megan M Tu
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Christina L Kirkham
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Ahmad Bakur Mahmoud
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada; College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, 30001 Madinah Munawwarah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Aruz Mesci
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Astrid Krmpotić
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
| | - David S J Allan
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Andrew P Makrigiannis
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada.
| | - Stipan Jonjić
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
| | - Jamie Rossjohn
- Infection and Immunity Program, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia; Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK.
| | - James R Carlyle
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada.
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22
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Kirkham CL, Aguilar OA, Yu T, Tanaka M, Mesci A, Chu KL, Fine JH, Mossman KL, Bremner R, Allan DSJ, Carlyle JR. Interferon-Dependent Induction of Clr-b during Mouse Cytomegalovirus Infection Protects Bystander Cells from Natural Killer Cells via NKR-P1B-Mediated Inhibition. J Innate Immun 2017; 9:343-358. [PMID: 28288457 DOI: 10.1159/000454926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that aid in self-nonself discrimination by recognizing cells undergoing pathological alterations. The NKR-P1B inhibitory receptor recognizes Clr-b, a self-encoded marker of cell health downregulated during viral infection. Here, we show that Clr-b loss during mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection is predicated by a loss of Clr-b (Clec2d) promoter activity and nascent transcripts, driven in part by MCMV ie3 (M122) activity. In contrast, uninfected bystander cells near MCMV-infected fibroblasts reciprocally upregulate Clr-b expression due to paracrine type-I interferon (IFN) signaling. Exposure of fibroblasts to type-I IFN augments Clec2d promoter activity and nascent Clr-b transcripts, dependent upon a cluster of IRF3/7/9 motifs located ∼200 bp upstream of the transcriptional start site. Cells deficient in type-I IFN signaling components revealed IRF9 and STAT1 as key transcription factors involved in Clr-b upregulation. In chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments, the Clec2d IRF cluster recruited STAT2 upon IFN-α exposure, confirming the involvement of ISGF3 (IRF9/STAT1/STAT2) in positively regulating the Clec2d promoter. These findings demonstrate that Clr-b is an IFN-stimulated gene on healthy bystander cells, in addition to a missing-self marker on MCMV-infected cells, and thereby enhances the dynamic range of innate self-nonself discrimination by NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina L Kirkham
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, and Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
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23
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Rahim MMA, Wight A, Mahmoud AB, Aguilar OA, Lee SH, Vidal SM, Carlyle JR, Makrigiannis AP. Expansion and Protection by a Virus-Specific NK Cell Subset Lacking Expression of the Inhibitory NKR-P1B Receptor during Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 197:2325-37. [PMID: 27511735 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1600776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Accepted: 07/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
NK cells play a major role in immune defense against human and murine CMV (MCMV) infection. Although the MCMV genome encodes for MHC class I-homologous decoy ligands for inhibitory NK cell receptors to evade detection, some mouse strains have evolved activating receptors, such as Ly49H, to recognize these ligands and initiate an immune response. In this study, we demonstrate that approximately half of the Ly49H-expressing (Ly49H(+)) NK cells in the spleen and liver of C57BL/6 mice also express the inhibitory NKR-P1B receptor. During MCMV infection, the NKR-P1B(-)Ly49H(+) NK cell subset proliferates to constitute the bulk of the NK cell population. This NK cell subset also confers better protection against MCMV infection compared with the NKR-P1B(+)Ly49H(+) subset. The two populations are composed of cells that differ in their surface expression of receptors such as Ly49C/I and NKG2A/C/E, as well as developmental markers, CD27 and CD11b, and the high-affinity IL-2R (CD25) following infection. Although the NKR-P1B(+) NK cells can produce effector molecules such as IFNs and granzymes, their proliferation is inhibited during infection. A similar phenotype in MCMV-infected Clr-b-deficient mice, which lack the ligand for NKR-P1B, suggests the involvement of ligands other than the host Clr-b. Most interestingly, genetic deficiency of the NKR-P1B, but not Clr-b, results in accelerated virus clearance and recovery from MCMV infection. This study is particularly significant because the mouse NKR-P1B:Clr-b receptor:ligand system represents the closest homolog of the human NKR-P1A:LLT1 system and may have a direct relevance to human CMV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mir Munir A Rahim
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada;
| | - Andrew Wight
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Ahmad Bakur Mahmoud
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada; College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, 30001 Madinah Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Oscar A Aguilar
- Department of Immunology, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada; and
| | - Seung-Hwan Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Silvia M Vidal
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - James R Carlyle
- Department of Immunology, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada; and
| | - Andrew P Makrigiannis
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
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24
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HERNYCHOVÁ L, MRÁZEK H, IVANOVA L, KUKAČKA Z, CHMELÍK J, NOVÁK P. Recombinant Expression, In Vitro Refolding and Characterizing Disulfide Bonds of a Mouse Inhibitory C-Type Lectin-Like Receptor Nkrp1b. Physiol Res 2015; 64:S85-93. [DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.933136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
As a part of the innate immunity, NK (Natural Killer) cells provide an early immune response to different stimuli, e.g. viral infections and tumor growths. However, their functions are more complex; they play an important role in reproduction, alloimmunity, autoimmunity and allergic diseases. NK cell activities require an intricate system of regulation that is ensured by many different receptors on a cell surface which integrate signals from interacting cells and soluble factors. One way to understand NK cell biology is through the structure of NK receptors, which can reveal ligand binding conditions. We present a modified protocol for recombinant expression in Escherichia coli and in vitro refolding of the ligand-binding domain of the inhibitory Nkrp1b (SJL/J) protein. Nkrp1b identity and folding was confirmed using mass spectrometry (accurate mass of the intact protein and evaluation of disulfide bonds) and one-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The intention is to provide the basis for conducting structural studies of the inhibitory Nkrp1b protein, since only the activating Nkrp1a receptor structure is known.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. HERNYCHOVÁ
- Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | | | | | | | - P. NOVÁK
- Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
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