Recognition of a virus-encoded ligand by a natural killer cell activation receptor

Natural killer (NK) cells express inhibitory and activation receptors that recognize MHC class I-like molecules on target cells. These receptors may be involved in the critical role of NK cells in controlling initial phases of certain viral infections. Indeed, the Ly49H NK cell activation receptor confers in vivo genetic resistance to murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infections, but its ligand was previously unknown. Herein, we use heterologous reporter cells to demonstrate that Ly49H recognizes MCMV-infected cells and a ligand encoded by MCMV itself. Exploiting a bioinformatics approach to the MCMV genome, we find at least 11 ORFs for molecules with previously unrecognized features of predicted MHC-like folds…

• HH
  Howard Hughes Medical Institute
• FF
  Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Award: GM62414
• MR
  Medical Research Council
• NH
  National Health and Medical Research Council
• NI
  National Institute of General Medical Sciences