Host NK-DC crosstalk in response to viral infection / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

ABSTRACT

The mechanism of interactions between natural killer (NK) cells and dendritic cells (DCs) in regulating the early stage of innate immune response and the subsequent adaptive immune response has been elucidated in recent years. NK-DC interactions result in the activation of NK cells and the maturation and/or apoptosis of DCs through direct cell-to-cell contact and releasing cytokines. NK cells can control and enhance DC-mediated antiviral immune response by inducing DCs to mature in favor of Th1 immune response and providing antigens to DCs and killing immature DCs (iDCs). DCs stimulate NK cells through soluble and cell-contact activators, thereby increasing their proliferation, survival and cytotoxicity to shape the innate immune response. Recent studies have shown that interactions between NK cells and DCs also play a critical role in several antiviral responses. Therefore, this paper reviewed the NK-DC interactions and their relationship with antiviral responses, thus providing a theoretical basis for studying the molecular mechanism of NK-DC interactions in viral infectious diseases.