A cytomegalovirus peptide-specific antibody alters natural killer cell homeostasis and ss shared in several autoimmune diseases

Liu, Y. et al. (2016) A cytomegalovirus peptide-specific antibody alters natural killer cell homeostasis and ss shared in several autoimmune diseases. Cell Host and Microbe, 19(3), pp. 400-408. (doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2016.02.005) (PMID:26962948)

Abstract

Human cytomegalovirus (hCMV), a ubiquitous beta-herpesvirus, has been associated with several autoimmune diseases. However, the direct role of hCMV in inducing autoimmune disorders remains unclear. Here we report the identification of an autoantibody that recognizes a group of peptides with a conserved motif matching the Pp150 protein of hCMV (anti-Pp150) and is shared among patients with various autoimmune diseases. Anti-Pp150 also recognizes the single-pass membrane protein CIP2A and induces the death of CD56bright NK cells, a natural killer cell subset whose expansion is correlated with autoimmune disease. Consistent with this finding, the percentage of circulating CD56bright NK cells is reduced in patients with several autoimmune diseases and negatively correlates with anti-Pp150 concentration. CD56bright NK cell death occurs via both antibody- and complement-dependent cytotoxicity. Our findings reveal that a shared hCMV-induced autoantibody is involved in the decrease of CD56bright NK cells and may thus contribute to the onset of autoimmune disorders.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: McInnes, Professor Iain
• Authors: Liu, Y., Mu, R., Gao, Y.-P., Dong, J., Zhu, L., Ma, Y., Li, Y.-H., Zhang, H.-Q., Han, D., Zhang, Y., McInnes, I. B., Zhang, J., Shen, B., Yang, G., and Li, Z.-G.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: Cell Host and Microbe
• Publisher: Cell Press
• ISSN: 1931-3128
• ISSN (Online): 1934-6069
• Published Online: 09 March 2016
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2016 Elsevier
• First Published: First published in Cell Host and Microbe 19(3):400-408
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher