Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cells and Gamma-delta T cells are both innate lymphocytes that respond rapidly and non-specifically to viral infection and other pathogens. They are also known to form a unique link between innate and adaptive immunity. Although they have similar immune features and effector functions, accumulating evidence in mice and humans suggest these two cell types have distinct roles in the control of infection by West Nile virus (WNV), a re-emerging pathogen that has caused fatal encephalitis in North America over the past decade. This review will discuss recent studies on these two cell types in protective immunity and viral pathogenesis during WNV infection.
Highlights
West Nile virus (WNV), a plus-sense, single-stranded neurotropic flavivirus, has been a public health concern in North America for more than a decade [1,2]
Natural Killer (NK) cells have been reported to be involved in the host immunity to infection of many flaviviruses, including yellow fever virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, dengue virus, and WNV [23,24,25,26]
They both respond rapidly and non- to WNV infection and control viral dissemination by secretion of IFN- and/or cytolytic activity. Both cell types cross-talk with dendritic cells (DCs) during
Summary
West Nile virus (WNV), a plus-sense, single-stranded neurotropic flavivirus, has been a public health concern in North America for more than a decade [1,2]. WNV has been studied in various animal models, including mice, hamsters, monkeys, and horses [12,13,14,15]. The murine model is an effective in vivo experimental model to investigate viral pathogenesis and host immunity in humans. Studies from experimental animal models, in vitro cell culture, and/or WNV patient samples have provided important insights into host immunity to WNV infection. Natural killer (NK) cells and T cells are two innate lymphocytes that respond rapidly and non- to viral infection. They are known to form a unique link between innate and adaptive immunity. We will discuss recent studies on these two unique cell types in both protective immunity and viral pathogenesis during WNV infection
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