Enrichment of cytomegalovirus-induced NKG2C natural killer cells in the lung allograft

Abstract

Background. In lung transplant recipients, immunosuppressive medications result in impaired antiviral immunity and a propensity for cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation within the lung allograft. Natural killer (NK) cells play a key role in immunity to CMV, with an increase in the proportion of NK cells expressing activating CD94-NKG2C receptors in the blood being a strong correlate of CMV infection. Whether a similar increase in NKG2C+ NK cells occurs in lung transplant recipients following CMV reactivation in the allograft and if such cells contribute to viral control remains unclear. Methods. In this pilot study, we longitudinally assessed the frequency and phenotype of NKG2C+ NK cells in t..