Pattern Recognition of Viral Diseases by Natural Killer Cells: Emphasis on Natural Cytotoxicity Receptors

Date/Time: 28 August 2013, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Speaker: Angel Porgador, Ph.D.
Speaker Affiliation: Professor and Deputy Dean for Research, The Shraga Segal Dept. of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
Venue: John A. Burns School of Medicine, Kaka’ako, MEB (Room 304)

For more info: Cori Watanabe (808) 692-1654
Description: Natural killer (NK) cells contribute substantially to the innate immune response by providing crucial early defense against viral infections and cellular transformation. NK cell activity is a balance between signals delivered by inhibitory and activating receptors. Major human NK activating receptors include NKG2D and the Natural Cytotoxicity Receptors (NCRs): NKp46 (NCR1), NKp44 (NCR2), and NKp30 (NCR3). The matter of the pathogen- and tumor-associated ligands recognized by the NCRs has been a subject of intense research ever since their identification more than a decade ago. Expression patterns recognized by NCRs include pathogen-derived, pathogen-induced and tumor-associated cellular “self” ligands. Virus-exposed cells may exhibit both types of virus-associated ligands. Transformed cells, in contrast, exhibit only â??selfâ?? ligands which are derived from both the intracellular- and membrane-associated milieu of self molecules. These expression patterns allow for NCR-based NK cell discrimination between healthy and affected cells, in the realms of both pathogenic infection and potential tumorigenesis. The focus of this presentation is on the current knowledge regarding the identities of NCR ligands and the type of target cells expressing these ligands. Emphasis will be given to NK involvement and recognition during influenza and flavivirus infections.
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