Latent gammaherpesvirus infection enhances type I IFN response and reduces virus spread in an influenza A virus co-infection model

Infections with persistent or latent viruses alter host immune homeostasis and have potential to affect the outcome of concomitant acute viral infections such as influenza A virus (IAV). Gammaherpesviruses establish life-long infections and require an on-going immune response to control reactivation. We have used a murine model of co-infection to investigate the response to IAV infection in mice latently infected with the gammaherpesvirus MHV-68. Over the course of infection, latently infected BALB/c mice showed less weight loss, clinical signs, pulmonary cellular infiltration and expression of inflammatory mediators than naïve mice infected with IAV and had significantly more activated CD8+ T cells in the lungs. Four days after IAV infection, virus spread in the lungs of latently infected animals was significantly lower than in naïve animals. By 7 days after IAV infection latently infected lungs express elevated levels of cytokines and chemokines indicating they are primed to respond to the secondary infection. Investigation at an early time point showed that 24 h after IAV infection co-infected animals had higher expression of IFNβ and Ddx58 (RIG-I) and a range of ISGs than mice infected with IAV alone suggesting that the type I IFN response plays a role in the protective effect. This effect was mouse strain dependent and did not occur in 129/Sv/Ev mice. These results offer insight into innate immune mechanisms that could be utilized to protect against IAV infection and highlight on-going and persistent viral infections as a significant factor impacting the severity of acute respiratory infections.

GlcNac produced by the gut microbiome enhances host influenza resistance by modulating NK cells

Microbiota are known to modulate the host response to influenza infection, but the mechanisms remain largely unknown. Gut metabolites are the key mediators through which gut microbes play anti-influenza effect. Transferring fecal metabolites from mice with high influenza resistance into antibiotic-treated recipient mice conferred resistance to influenza infections. By comparing the metabolites of different individuals with high or low influenza resistance, we identified and validated N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) and adenosine showed strong positive correlations with influenza resistance and exerted anti-influenza effects in vivo or in vitro, respectively. Especially, GlcNAc mediated the anti-influenza effect by increasing the proportion and activity of NK cells. Several gut microbes, including Clostridium sp., Phocaeicola sartorii, and Akkermansia muciniphila, were positively correlated with influenza resistance, and can upregulate the level of GlcNAc in the mouse gut by exogenous supplementation. Subsequent studies confirmed that administering a combination of the three bacteria to mice via gavage resulted in similar modulation of NK cell responses as observed with GlcNAc. This study demonstrates that gut microbe-produced GlcNAc protects the host against influenza by regulating NK cells, facilitating the elucidation of the action mechanism of gut microbes mediating host influenza resistance.

Antiviral Responses of Tissue-resident CD49a+ Lung Natural Killer Cells Are Dysregulated in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Rationale: Tissue-resident natural killer (trNK) cells have been identified in numerous organs, but little is known about their functional contribution to respiratory immunity, in particular during chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Objectives: To investigate the phenotype and antiviral responses of trNK cells in murine cigarette smoke-induced experimental COPD and in human lung parenchyma from COPD donors. Methods: Mice were exposed to cigarette smoke for 12 weeks to induce COPD-like lung disease. Lung trNK cell phenotypes and function were analyzed by flow cytometry in both murine and human disease with and without challenge with influenza A virus. Measurements and Main Results: In the mouse lung, CD49a+CD49b+EOMES+ and CD49a+CD49b-EOMESlo NK cell populations had a distinct phenotype compared with CD49a- circulating NK cells. CD49a+ NK cells were more extensively altered earlier in disease onset than circulating NK cells, and increased proportions of CD49a+ NK cells correlated with worsening disease in both murine and human COPD. Furthermore, the presence of lung disease delayed both circulating and trNK cell functional responses to influenza infection. CD49a+ NK cells markedly increased their NKG2D, CD103, and CD69 expression in experimental COPD after influenza infection, and human CD49a+ NK cells were hyperactive to ex vivo influenza infection in COPD donors. Conclusions: Collectively, these results demonstrate that trNK cell function is altered in cigarette smoke-induced disease and suggests that smoke exposure may aberrantly prime trNK cell responsiveness to viral infection. This may contribute to excess inflammation during viral exacerbations of COPD.

Development of a humanized HLA-A30 transgenic mouse model

Background

There are remarkable genetic differences between animal major histocompatibility complex (MHC) systems and the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system. HLA transgenic humanized mouse model systems offer a much better method to study the HLA‐A‐related principal mechanisms for vaccine development and HLA‐A‐restricted responses against infection in human.

Methods

A recombinant gene encoding the chimeric HLA‐A30 monochain was constructed. This HHD molecule contains the following: α1‐α2 domains of HLA‐A30, α3 and cytoplasmic domains of H‐2D^b, linked at its N‐terminus to the C‐terminus of human β2m by a 15‐amino‐acid peptide linker. The recombinant gene encoding the chimeric HLA‐A30 monochain cassette was introduced into bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) CH502‐67J3 containing the HLA‐A01 gene locus by Red‐mediated homologous recombination. Modified BAC CH502‐67J3 was microinjected into the pronuclei of wild‐type mouse oocytes. This humanized mouse model was further used to assess the immune responses against influenza A virus (H1N1) pdm09 clinically isolated from human patients. Immune cell population, cytokine production, and histopathology in the lung were analyzed.

Results

We describe a novel human β2m‐HLA‐A30 (α1α2)‐H‐2D^b (α3 transmembrane cytoplasmic) (HHD) monochain transgenic mouse strain, which contains the intact HLA‐A01 gene locus including 49 kb 5′‐UTR and 74 kb 3′‐UTR of HLA‐A01*01. Five transgenic lines integrated into the large genomic region of HLA‐A gene locus were obtained, and the robust expression of exogenous transgene was detected in various tissues from A30‐18# and A30‐19# lines encompassing the intact flanking sequences. Flow cytometry revealed that the introduction of a large genomic region in HLA‐A gene locus can influence the immune cell constitution in humanized mice. Pdm09 infection caused a similar immune response among HLA‐A30 Tg humanized mice and wild‐type mice, and induced the rapid increase of cytokines, including IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, and IL‐6, in both HLA‐A30 humanized Tg mice and wild‐type mice. The expression of HLA‐A30 transgene was dramatically promoted in tissues from A30‐9# line at 3 days post‐infection (dpi).

Conclusions

We established a promising preclinical research animal model of HLA‐A30 Tg humanized mouse, which could accelerate the identification of novel HLA‐A30‐restricted epitopes and vaccine development, and support the study of HLA‐A‐restricted responses against infection in humans.

Human placental hematopoietic stem cell derived natural killer cells (CYNK-001) mediate protection against influenza a viral infection

Influenza A virus (IAV) infections are associated with a high healthcare burden around the world and there is an urgent need to develop more effective therapies. Natural killer (NK) cells have been shown to play a pivotal role in reducing IAV-induced pulmonary infections in preclinical models; however, little is known about the therapeutic potential of adoptively transferred NK cells for IAV infections. Here, we investigated the effects of CYNK-001, human placental hematopoietic stem cell derived NK cells that exhibited strong cytolytic activity against a range of malignant cells and expressed high levels of activating receptors, against IAV infections. In a severe IAV-induced acute lung injury model, mice treated with CYNK-001 showed a milder body weight loss and clinical symptoms, which led to a delayed onset of mortality, thus demonstrating their antiviral protection in vivo. Analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) revealed that CYNK-001 reduced proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines highlighting CYNK-001’s anti-inflammatory actions in viral induced-lung injury. Furthermore, CYNK-001-treated mice had altered immune responses to IAV with reduced number of neutrophils in BALF yet increased number of CD8+ T cells in the BALF and lung compared to vehicle-treated mice. Our results demonstrate that CYNK-001 displays protective functions against IAV via its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating activities, which leads to alleviation of disease burden and progression in a severe IAV-infected mice model. The potential of adoptive NK therapy for IAV infections warrants clinical investigation.

A TLR7 antagonist restricts interferon-dependent and -independent immunopathology in a mouse model of severe influenza

Cytokine-mediated immune-cell recruitment and inflammation contribute to protection in respiratory virus infection. However, uncontrolled inflammation and the "cytokine storm" are hallmarks of immunopathology in severe infection. Cytokine storm is a broad term for a phenomenon with diverse characteristics and drivers, depending on host genetics, age, and other factors. Taking advantage of the differential use of virus-sensing systems by different cell types, we test the hypothesis that specifically blocking TLR7-dependent, immune cell-produced cytokines reduces influenza-related immunopathology. In a mouse model of severe influenza characterized by a type I interferon (IFN-I)-driven cytokine storm, TLR7 antagonist treatment leaves epithelial antiviral responses unaltered but acts through pDCs and monocytes to reduce IFN-I and other cytokines in the lung, thus ameliorating inflammation and severity. Moreover, even in the absence of IFN-I signaling, TLR7 antagonism reduces inflammation and mortality driven by monocyte-produced chemoattractants and neutrophil recruitment into the infected lung. Hence, TLR7 antagonism reduces diverse types of cytokine storm in severe influenza.

Too young to die? How aging affects cellular innate immune responses to influenza virus and disease severity

Influenza is a respiratory viral infection that causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The innate immune cell response elicited during influenza A virus (IAV) infection forms the critical first line of defense, which typically is impaired as we age. As such, elderly individuals more commonly succumb to influenza-associated complications, which is reflected in most aged animal models of IAV infection. Here, we review the important roles of several major innate immune cell populations in influenza pathogenesis, some of which being deleterious to the host, and the current knowledge of how age-associated numerical, phenotypic and functional cell changes impact disease development. Further investigation into age-related modulation of innate immune cell responses, using appropriate animal models, will help reveal how immunity to IAV may be compromised by aging and inform the development of novel therapies, tailored for use in this vulnerable group.

Phenotypic and Functional Characteristics of a Novel Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin-Specific Memory NK Cell

Immune memory represents the most efficient defense against invasion and transmission of infectious pathogens. In contrast to memory T and B cells, the roles of innate immunity in recall responses remain inconclusive. In this study, we identified a novel mouse spleen NK cell subset expressing NKp46 and NKG2A induced by intranasal influenza virus infection. These memory NK cells specifically recognize N-linked glycosylation sites on influenza hemagglutinin (HA) protein. Different from memory-like NK cells reported previously, these NKp46⁺ NKG2A⁺ memory NK cells exhibited HA-specific silence of cytotoxicity but increase of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) response against influenza virus-infected cells, which could be reversed by pifithrin-μ, a p53-heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) signaling inhibitor. During recall responses, splenic NKp46⁺ NKG2A⁺ NK cells were recruited to infected lung and modulated viral clearance of virus and CD8⁺ T cell distribution, resulting in improved clinical outcomes. This long-lived NK memory bridges innate and adaptive immune memory response and promotes the homeostasis of local environment during recall response.IMPORTANCE In this study, we demonstrate a novel hemagglutinin (HA)-specific NKp46⁺ NKG2A⁺ NK cell subset induced by influenza A virus infection. These memory NK cells show virus-specific decreased cytotoxicity and increased gamma interferon (IFN-γ) on reencountering the same influenza virus antigen. In addition, they modulate host recall responses and CD8 T cell distribution, thus bridging the innate immune and adaptive immune responses during influenza virus infection.

Influenza A Virus Hemagglutinin and Other Pathogen Glycoprotein Interactions with NK Cell Natural Cytotoxicity Receptors NKp46, NKp44, and NKp30

Natural killer (NK) cells are part of the innate immunity repertoire, and function in the recognition and destruction of tumorigenic and pathogen-infected cells. Engagement of NK cell activating receptors can lead to functional activation of NK cells, resulting in lysis of target cells. NK cell activating receptors specific for non-major histocompatibility complex ligands are NKp46, NKp44, NKp30, NKG2D, and CD16 (also known as FcγRIII). The natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs), NKp46, NKp44, and NKp30, have been implicated in functional activation of NK cells following influenza virus infection via binding with influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA). In this review we describe NK cell and influenza A virus biology, and the interactions of influenza A virus HA and other pathogen lectins with NK cell natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs). We review concepts which intersect viral immunology, traditional virology and glycobiology to provide insights into the interactions between influenza virus HA and the NCRs. Furthermore, we provide expert opinion on future directions that would provide insights into currently unanswered questions.

The role of NK cells in fighting the virus infection and sepsis

Natural killer cells, one of the important types of innate immune cells, play a pivotal role in the antiviral process in vivo. It has been shown that increasing NK cell activity may promote the alleviation of viral infections, even severe infection-induced sepsis. Given the current state of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) global pandemic, clarifying the anti-viral function of NK cells would be helpful for revealing the mechanism of host immune responses and decipher the progression of COVID-19 and providing important clues for combating this pandemic. In this review, we summarize the roles of NK cells in viral infection and sepsis as well as the potential possibilities of NK cell-based immunotherapy for treating COVID-19.

"Acquired" NKG2D Ligand Stimulates NK Cell-mediated Tumor Immunosurveillance

Engagement of activating receptor NKG2D to its ligand mediates natural killer (NK) cell activation and enhances cytotoxicity. NKG2D ligands (NKG2DLs) are frequently expressed on the tumor cell surface. However, the expression patterns of different NKG2DLs vary between tumor cells. Downregulation of certain ligand enables the tumor cells to escape NK cell-mediated immunosurveillance. By generating tumor cell lines with high expression of NKG2D ligand MULT1, we aimed to explore the function of NKG2DLs diversity on the activation and regulation of NKG2D signaling pathway. NK cells were potently activated by the "acquired" MULT1 expression on MOVCAR 5009 cells. Further, the progression of the tumor was significantly inhibited in mice inoculated with MULT1-expressing MOVCAR 5009 cells. Also, the pulmonary metastasis of MULT1-expressing B16-F0 cells was also significantly reduced in vivo. Our results implied that "acquired" NKG2D ligands enhance antitumor responses of NK cells, providing insights for designing novel therapeutic strategies and drugs to enhance NK cell surveillance over malignances.

Defective Influenza A Virus RNA Products Mediate MAVS-Dependent Upregulation of Human Leukocyte Antigen Class I Proteins

Human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) are cell surface proteins that regulate innate and adaptive immune responses to viral infection by engaging with receptors on immune cells. Many viruses have evolved ways to evade host immune responses by modulating HLA expression and/or processing. Here, we provide evidence that aberrant RNA products of influenza virus genome replication can trigger retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)/mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS)-dependent remodeling of the cell surface, increasing surface presentation of HLA proteins known to inhibit the activation of an immune cell known as a natural killer (NK) cell. While this HLA upregulation would seem to be advantageous to the virus, it is kept in check by the viral nonstructural 1 (NS1) protein, which limits RIG-I activation and interferon production by the infected cell.

Influenza A virus (IAV) increases the presentation of class I human leukocyte antigen (HLA) proteins that limit antiviral responses mediated by natural killer (NK) cells, but molecular mechanisms for these processes have not yet been fully elucidated. We observed that infection with A/Fort Monmouth/1/1947(H1N1) IAV significantly increased the presentation of HLA-B, -C, and -E on lung epithelial cells. Virus entry was not sufficient to induce HLA upregulation because UV-inactivated virus had no effect. Aberrant internally deleted viral RNAs (vRNAs) known as mini viral RNAs (mvRNAs) and defective interfering RNAs (DI RNAs) expressed from an IAV minireplicon were sufficient for inducing HLA upregulation. These defective RNAs bind to retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) and initiate mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS) protein-dependent antiviral interferon (IFN) responses. Indeed, MAVS was required for HLA upregulation in response to IAV infection or ectopic mvRNA/DI RNA expression. The effect was partially due to paracrine signaling, as we observed that IAV infection or mvRNA/DI RNA-expression stimulated production of IFN-β and IFN-λ1 and conditioned media from these cells elicited a modest increase in HLA surface levels in naive epithelial cells. HLA upregulation in response to aberrant viral RNAs could be prevented by the Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor ruxolitinib. While HLA upregulation would seem to be advantageous to the virus, it is kept in check by the viral nonstructural 1 (NS1) protein; we determined that NS1 limits cell-intrinsic and paracrine mechanisms of HLA upregulation. Taken together, our findings indicate that aberrant IAV RNAs stimulate HLA presentation, which may aid viral evasion of innate immunity.

IMPORTANCE Human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) are cell surface proteins that regulate innate and adaptive immune responses to viral infection by engaging with receptors on immune cells. Many viruses have evolved ways to evade host immune responses by modulating HLA expression and/or processing. Here, we provide evidence that aberrant RNA products of influenza virus genome replication can trigger retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)/mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS)-dependent remodeling of the cell surface, increasing surface presentation of HLA proteins known to inhibit the activation of an immune cell known as a natural killer (NK) cell. While this HLA upregulation would seem to be advantageous to the virus, it is kept in check by the viral nonstructural 1 (NS1) protein, which limits RIG-I activation and interferon production by the infected cell.

Host-Virus Interaction: How Host Cells Defend against Influenza A Virus Infection

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are highly contagious pathogens infecting human and numerous animals. The viruses cause millions of infection cases and thousands of deaths every year, thus making IAVs a continual threat to global health. Upon IAV infection, host innate immune system is triggered and activated to restrict virus replication and clear pathogens. Subsequently, host adaptive immunity is involved in specific virus clearance. On the other hand, to achieve a successful infection, IAVs also apply multiple strategies to avoid be detected and eliminated by the host immunity. In the current review, we present a general description on recent work regarding different host cells and molecules facilitating antiviral defenses against IAV infection and how IAVs antagonize host immune responses.

Rule-based meta-analysis reveals the major role of PB2 in influencing influenza A virus virulence in mice

Background

Influenza A virus (IAV) poses threats to human health and life. Many individual studies have been carried out in mice to uncover the viral factors responsible for the virulence of IAV infections. Nonetheless, a single study may not provide enough confident about virulence factors, hence combining several studies for a meta-analysis is desired to provide better views. For this, we documented more than 500 records of IAV infections in mice, whose viral proteins could be retrieved and the mouse lethal dose 50 or alternatively, weight loss and/or survival data, was/were available for virulence classification.

Results

IAV virulence models were learned from various datasets containing aligned IAV proteins and the corresponding two virulence classes (avirulent and virulent) or three virulence classes (low, intermediate and high virulence). Three proven rule-based learning approaches, i.e., OneR, JRip and PART, and additionally random forest were used for modelling. PART models achieved the best performance, with moderate average model accuracies ranged from 65.0 to 84.4% and from 54.0 to 66.6% for the two-class and three-class problems, respectively. PART models were comparable to or even better than random forest models and should be preferred based on the Occam’s razor principle. Interestingly, the average accuracy of the models was improved when host information was taken into account. For model interpretation, we observed that although many sites in HA were highly correlated with virulence, PART models based on sites in PB2 could compete against and were often better than PART models based on sites in HA. Moreover, PART had a high preference to include sites in PB2 when models were learned from datasets containing the concatenated alignments of all IAV proteins. Several sites with a known contribution to virulence were found as the top protein sites, and site pairs that may synergistically influence virulence were also uncovered.

Conclusion

Modelling IAV virulence is a challenging problem. Rule-based models generated using viral proteins are useful for its advantage in interpretation, but only achieve moderate performance. Development of more advanced approaches that learn models from features extracted from both viral and host proteins shall be considered for future works.

Circadian control of lung inflammation in influenza infection

Influenza is a leading cause of respiratory mortality and morbidity. While inflammation is essential for fighting infection, a balance of anti-viral defense and host tolerance is necessary for recovery. Circadian rhythms have been shown to modulate inflammation. However, the importance of diurnal variability in the timing of influenza infection is not well understood. Here we demonstrate that endogenous rhythms affect survival in influenza infection. Circadian control of influenza infection is mediated by enhanced inflammation as proven by increased cellularity in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), pulmonary transcriptomic profile and histology and is not attributable to viral burden. Better survival is associated with a time dependent preponderance of NK and NKT cells and lower proportion of inflammatory monocytes in the lung. Further, using a series of genetic mouse mutants, we elucidate cellular mechanisms underlying circadian gating of influenza infection.

Influenza virus matrix protein M1 interacts with SLD5 to block host cell cycle

Influenza virus matrix 1 protein (M1) is highly conserved and plays essential roles at many stages of virus life cycle. Here, we used a yeast two-hybrid system to identify the host protein SLD5, a component of the GINS complex, which is essential for the initiation of DNA replication in eukaryotic cells, as a new M1 interacting protein. M1 from several different influenza virus strains all interacted with SLD5. Overexpression of SLD5 suppressed influenza virus replication. Transient, stable, or inducible expression of M1 induced host cell cycle blockade at G0/G1 phase. Moreover, SLD5 partially rescued M1 expression- or influenza virus infection-induced G0/G1 phase accumulation in cell lines and primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Importantly, SLD5 transgenic mice exhibited higher resistance and improved lung epithelial regeneration after virus infection compared with wild-type mice. Therefore, influenza virus M1 blocks host cell cycle process by interacting with SLD5. Our finding reveals the multifunctional nature of M1 and provides new insight for understanding influenza virus-host interaction.

GALNT3 inhibits NF-κB signaling during influenza A virus infection

Protein glycosylation, attaching glycans covalently onto amino acid side chains of protein by various glycosyltransferase, is the most common post-translational modification. The UDP-GalNAc transferase 3 (GANLT3), encoded by Galnt3, transfers N-acetyl-d-galactosamine to hydroxyl groups of the side chains of Ser/Thr residues, initiating mucin type O-glycosylation of proteins. Most researches as yet focus on the involvement and abnormal expression of GALNT3 in various tumors. In this study, we found that GALNT3 was significantly decreased in the lungs after influenza A virus (IAV) infection in mice. Overexpression of GALNT3 in cell lines markedly inhibited IAV replication. Further experiments demonstrated that GALNT3 inhibited NF-κB signaling by preventing the translocation of phosphorylated P65 into nucleus. Therefore, our results reveal an important role of GALNT3 in regulating host responses during IAV infection, indicating the broad functions of the GALNT family, and the direct involvement of GALNTs during viral infections.

Human CD49a+ Lung Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxicity in Response to Influenza A Virus

Influenza A virus (IAV) is a major global public health burden due to its routine evasion of immunization strategies. Natural killer (NK) cells are innate cytotoxic cells with important antiviral activity in the human body, yet the function of these cells in the control of IAV infection is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the role of lung NK cell cytotoxic responses to IAV. Human lung explants were infected ex vivo with IAV, and lung NK cell activation was analyzed by flow cytometry. Cytotoxic responses of NK cell subsets against IAV-infected macrophages were measured by flow cytometry and ELISA. Despite reports of hypofunctionality in the pulmonary environment, human lung-associated NK cells responded rapidly to ex vivo IAV infection, with upregulation of surface CD107a 24 h post-infection. The lung NK cell phenotype is similar in maturity and differentiation to NK cells of the peripheral blood but a unique CD56^brightCD49a⁺CD103⁺CD69⁺ NK cell population was identified in the lung, indicating NK cell residency within this organ. In response to ex vivo IAV infection a greater proportion of resident CD56^brightCD49a⁺ NK cells expressed surface CD107a compared with CD56^brightCD49a⁻ NK cells, suggesting a hyperfunctional NK cell population may be present within human lung tissue and could be the result of innate immunological training. Furthermore, NK cells provided significant antiviral, cytotoxic activity following contact with influenza-infected cells, including the production and release of IFN-γ and granzyme-B resulting in macrophage cell death. These results suggest that a resident, trained NK cell population are present in the human lung and may provide early and important control of viral infection. A greater understanding of this resident mucosal population may provide further insight into the role of these cells in controlling viral infection and generating appropriate adaptive immunity to IAV.

Aged Mice are More Resistant to Influenza Virus Infection due to Reduced Inflammation and Lung Pathology

Immune responses are a double-edged sword. Effective and appropriate immune responses capable of controlling viral infection while also largely preserving tissue integrity, are critical for host survival. Too strong immune responses might result in immune pathology, while too weak immune responses might cause viral persistence. Physiologic ageing is accompanied with a decline in the normal functioning of the immune system, which is termed as "immunosenescence". We show that aged mice (16-19 months old) are more resistant to influenza A virus (IAV) infection than the young mice. Strong immune responses in the young mice after IAV infection result in faster clearance of virus, but also cause severe lung injury and higher mortality rate. While in the aged mice, the delayed and milder immune responses contribute to reduced pulmonary damage, and are still capable to clear the infection even with a slower kinetics, displaying a more resistant phenotype during IAV infection. Hence, our work demonstrates that moderate immune responses as a decline with ageing in the aged mice balance the immune pathology and viral clearance, might be beneficial for the host during certain circumstances. Our results provide important insight to our basic knowledge of immunosenescence and immune defenses to invading pathogens. Further, our results indicate that age factors should be considered when investigating the vaccination and therapeutic strategies for severe IAV infection.

Natural Killer Cell Recruitment to the Lung During Influenza A Virus Infection Is Dependent on CXCR3, CCR5, and Virus Exposure Dose

Natural killer (NK) cells are vital components of the antiviral immune response, but their contributions in defense against influenza A virus (IAV) are not well understood. To better understand NK cell responses during IAV infections, we examined the magnitude, kinetics, and contribution of NK cells to immunity and protection during high- and low-dose IAV infections. Herein, we demonstrate an increased accumulation of NK cells in the lung in high-dose vs. low-dose infections. In part, this increase is due to the local proliferation of pulmonary NK cells. However, the majority of NK cell accumulation within the lungs and airways during an IAV infection is due to recruitment that is partially dependent upon CXCR3 and CCR5, respectively. Therefore, altogether, our results demonstrate that NK cells are actively recruited to the lungs and airways during IAV infection and that the magnitude of the recruitment may relate to the inflammatory environment found within the tissues during high- and low-dose IAV infections.

NK cells inhibit anti-Mycobacterium bovis BCG T cell responses and aggravate pulmonary inflammation in a direct lung infection mouse model

Tuberculosis remains a threat to public health. The major problem for curing this disease is latent infection, of which the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. Previous studies indicate that natural killer (NK) cells do not play a role in inhibiting the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the lung, and recent studies have revealed that NK cells regulate the adaptive immunity during mycobacterial infection. By using a mouse model of direct lung infection with Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), we found that the presence of NK cells postponed the priming and activation of T cells after BCG infection. In addition, depletion of NK cells before infection alleviated pulmonary pathology. Further studies showed that NK cells lysed BCG-infected macrophages in an NKG2D dependent manner. Thus, NK cells did not play a direct role in control BCG, but aggravated the pulmonary inflammation and impaired anti-BCG T cell immunity, likely through killing BCG-infected macrophages. Our results may have important implications for the design of immune therapy to treat tuberculosis.

Respiratory Influenza A Virus Infection Triggers Local and Systemic Natural Killer Cell Activation via Toll-Like Receptor 7

The innate immune system senses influenza A virus (IAV) through different pathogen-recognition receptors including Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7). Downstream of viral recognition natural killer (NK) cells are activated as part of the anti-IAV immune response. Despite the known decisive role of TLR7 for NK cell activation by therapeutic immunostimulatory RNAs, the contribution of TLR7 to the NK cell response following IAV infection has not been addressed. We have analyzed lung cytokine responses as well as the activation, interferon (IFN)-γ production, and cytotoxicity of lung and splenic NK cells following sublethal respiratory IAV infection in wild-type and TLR7ko mice. Early airway IFN-γ levels as well as the induction of lung NK cell CD69 expression and IFN-γ production in response to IAV infection were significantly attenuated in TLR7-deficient hosts. Strikingly, respiratory IAV infection also primed splenic NK cells for IFN-γ production, degranulation, and target cell lysis, all of which were fully dependent on TLR7. At the same time, lung type I IFN levels were significantly reduced in TLR7ko mice early following IAV infection, displaying a potential upstream mechanism of the attenuated NK cell activation observed. Taken together, our data clearly demonstrate a specific role for TLR7 signaling in local and systemic NK cell activation following respiratory IAV infection despite the presence of redundant innate IAV-recognition pathways.

Bidirectional factors impact the migration of NK cells to draining lymph node in aged mice during influenza virus infection

Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in controlling several viral diseases. Our previous studies demonstrated an age-dependent susceptibility to mousepox due to defective NK cell responses and trafficking. However, the mechanisms that underlie the age-related impairment in NK cell migration have yet to be identified. In the present study, we demonstrated that after influenza A virus (IAV) infection, NK cells from aged mice (17-19months old) failed to accumulate in draining lymph node (D-LN). We found that both environmental and intrinsic factors played roles for this defect. After infection, increase of chemokine transcripts, especially CXCL9, 10 and 11, which are important for NK cells homing to D-LN, was significantly lower in the D-LN of aged mice compared with those of young mice. Further, the expression levels of β2-integrins and β-actins, which play critical roles in NK cells homing to D-LN failed to be up-regulated in NK cells from aged mice. Finally, actin polymerization rates in NK cells from aged mice were also delayed compared to that of the young mice after IAV infection. Taken together, our data indicate that bi-directional factors play essential roles in the defective NK cell trafficking to the D-LN in the aged mice after IAV infection.

Involvement of NK Cells in IL-28B-Mediated Immunity against Influenza Virus Infection

IL-28B is a member of the newly discovered type III IFN family and exhibits unique antiviral properties compared with other family members. NK cells play a critical role in defending against viruses; however, little is known about the role of IL-28B in NK cell function. In a mouse model of influenza A virus (mouse adapted influenza A/PR/8/34 strain) infection, long-term overexpression of IL-28B induced by hepatocyte-specific gene delivery exerted a strong antiviral effect in the presence of NK cells. In IL-28B-overexpressing wild-type mice, the percentages and absolute numbers of NK cells in the spleen, liver, and lung were markedly increased, with higher proliferation and accelerated NK cell maturation based on phenotypes staining with CD11b and CD27 or CD11b and KLRG1. Furthermore, the effect of IL-28B on NK cells was macrophage dependent, as confirmed in an in vitro coculture assay and in in vivo macrophage- or alveolar macrophage-depletion experiments. Transwell studies demonstrated that CFSE-labeled NK cell proliferation was driven, in a dose-dependent manner, by unknown soluble factor(s) secreted by IL-28B-stimulated alveolar macrophages, without requiring direct cell-cell contact. An understanding of the NK cell-promoting features of IL-28B will facilitate future clinical application of this cytokine.

The Influenza Virus Protein PB1-F2 Increases Viral Pathogenesis through Neutrophil Recruitment and NK Cells Inhibition

The influenza A virus (IAV) PB1-F2 protein is a virulence factor contributing to the pathogenesis observed during IAV infections in mammals. In this study, using a mouse model, we compared the host response associated with PB1-F2 with an early transcriptomic signature that was previously associated with neutrophils and consecutively fatal IAV infections. This allowed us to show that PB1-F2 is partly involved in neutrophil-related mechanisms leading to death. Using neutropenic mice, we confirmed that the harmful effect of PB1-F2 is due to an excessive inflammation mediated by an increased neutrophil mobilization. We identified the downstream effects of this PB1-F2-exacerbated neutrophil recruitment. PB1-F2 had no impact on the lymphocyte recruitment in the airways at day 8 pi. However, functional genomics analysis and flow cytometry in broncho-alveolar lavages at 4 days pi revealed that PB1-F2 induced a NK cells deficiency. Thus, our results identify PB1-F2 as an important immune disruptive factor during the IAV infection.