TY - JOUR
T1 - Human Cytomegalovirus Immune Evasion of Natural Killer Cells
T2 - A Virus for All Seasons?
AU - Preston, Hannah
AU - Casey, Rowan
AU - Ferris, Elizabeth
AU - Kerr-Jones, Lauren
AU - Jones, Lauren
AU - Latif, Farah
AU - Clement, Mathew
AU - Aicheler, Rebecca J.
AU - Wang, Eddie C. Y.
AU - Stanton, Richard J.
AU - Fielding, Ceri A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 by the authors.
PY - 2025/6/24
Y1 - 2025/6/24
N2 - Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous member of the herpesvirus family, of significant clinical importance, and highly adapted to its host, resulting from millions of years of co-evolution. As a result, the virus systematically subverts almost all aspects of antiviral immune defence to successfully establish a lifelong persistent infection, and in the process, dramatically reshapes the phenotype and function of host immunity to both HCMV and other diseases. Natural killer (NK) cells are a critical component of successful herpesvirus control. Here, we discuss their role in modulating HCMV disease and the multitude of ways that HCMV has evolved to prevent and manipulate this process. We also consider how antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity by NK cells directed against HCMV might overcome NK immune evasion mechanisms and be useful therapeutically.
AB - Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous member of the herpesvirus family, of significant clinical importance, and highly adapted to its host, resulting from millions of years of co-evolution. As a result, the virus systematically subverts almost all aspects of antiviral immune defence to successfully establish a lifelong persistent infection, and in the process, dramatically reshapes the phenotype and function of host immunity to both HCMV and other diseases. Natural killer (NK) cells are a critical component of successful herpesvirus control. Here, we discuss their role in modulating HCMV disease and the multitude of ways that HCMV has evolved to prevent and manipulate this process. We also consider how antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity by NK cells directed against HCMV might overcome NK immune evasion mechanisms and be useful therapeutically.
KW - Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity
KW - Cytomegalovirus
KW - Cytomegalovirus Infections
KW - Host-Pathogen Interactions
KW - Humans
KW - Immune Evasion
KW - Killer Cells, Natural
KW - Natural killer cell
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105011417095
U2 - 10.3390/pathogens14070629
DO - 10.3390/pathogens14070629
M3 - Review article
C2 - 40732677
SN - 2076-0817
VL - 14
JO - Pathogens
JF - Pathogens
IS - 7
M1 - 629
ER -
