The CD94/NKG2C-Expressing NK Cell Subset Is Augmented in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients with Positive Human Cytomegalovirus Serostatus

• Published in: Viral immunology Vol. 22; no. 5; pp. 333 - 337
• Main Authors: Petersen, Line, Roug, Anne S., Skovbo, Anni, Thysen, Anna H., Eskelund, Christian W., Hokland, Marianne E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mary Ann Liebert, Inc 01.10.2009
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Blood; Brief Reports; Care and treatment; Chronic lymphatic leukemia; Chronic lymphocytic leukemia; Complications and side effects; Cytomegalovirus Infections - complications; Cytomegalovirus Infections - immunology; Cytomegalovirus Infections - metabolism; Development and progression; Female; Flow Cytometry; HIV infection; Human cytomegalovirus; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Immune response; Immune system; Killer cells; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Killer Cells, Natural - metabolism; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell - complications; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell - immunology; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell - metabolism; Lymphocytes B; Male; Middle Aged; Natural killer cells; NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C - biosynthesis; NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D - biosynthesis; NKG2 antigen; Physiological aspects; Risk factors; Therapeutic applications; Denmark
• ISSN: 0882-8245; 1557-8976
• DOI: 10.1089/vim.2009.0032

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) manipulates the host immune system in various ways. Allegedly, HCMV infection is associated with increased percentages of a particular natural killer (NK) cell subset expressing the activating receptor CD94/NKG2C in both healthy individuals and in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Whether the HCMV-mediated induction of this specific NK cell subset is also apparent for other diseases characterized by abnormal immune responses, such as malignant blood diseases, is unknown. By comparing the fractions of CD94/NKG2C + NK cells in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) patients having either positive or negative HCMV serostatus, a proportional increase of this cell subset was obvious in the HCMV-seropositive subjects. Therapeutic intervention in the patients with positive HCMV serostatus did not seem to reduce the percentage of CD94/NKG2C-expressing NK cells. Thus, HCMV infection seemingly shapes the NK cell system in healthy individuals, HIV patients, and B-CLL patients in a uniform manner, even though these involve different immunological challenges.