Human Natural Killer Cells Prevent Infectious Mononucleosis Features by Targeting Lytic Epstein-Barr Virus Infection

• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2013.11.041
• Publication Date: 2013-12-19T17:01:30Z
• Authors: Obinna Chijioke; Anne Müller; Regina Feederle; Mario Henrique M....; Carsten Krieg; Vanessa Emmel; Emanuela Marcenaro; Carol S. Leung; Olga Antsiferova; Vanessa Landtwing; Walter Bossart; Alessandro Moretta; Rocio Hassan; Onur Boyman; Gerald Niedobitek; Henri-Jacques Del...; Riccarda Capaul; Christian Münz
• Keywords: Mononucleosis; Lytic cycle; Epstein–Barr virus infection

Primary infection with the human oncogenic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can result in infectious mononucleosis (IM), a self-limiting disease caused by massive lymphocyte expansion that predisposes for development of distinct EBV-associated lymphomas. Why some individuals experience this symptomatic primary EBV infection, whereas majority acquires asymptomatically, remains unclear. Using mouse model reconstituted immune system components, we show depletion natural killer (NK) cells enhances IM symptoms and promotes tumorigenesis mainly because loss control over lytic infection. These data suggest failure innate NK augments which drives malignancies.