Cell-intrinsic adrenergic signaling controls the adaptive NK cell response to viral infection Journal Article


Authors: Diaz-Salazar, C.; Bou-Puerto, R.; Mujal, A. M.; Lau, C. M.; von Hoesslin, M.; Zehn, D.; Sun, J. C.
Article Title: Cell-intrinsic adrenergic signaling controls the adaptive NK cell response to viral infection
Abstract: Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that exhibit adaptive features, such as clonal expansion and memory, during viral infection. Although activating receptor engagement and proinflammatory cytokines are required to drive NK cell clonal expansion, additional stimulatory signals controlling their proliferation remain to be discovered. Here, we describe one such signal that is provided by the adrenergic nervous system, and demonstrate that cell-intrinsic adrenergic signaling is required for optimal adaptive NK cell responses. Early during mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection, NK cells up-regulated Adrb2 (which encodes the β2-adrenergic receptor), a process dependent on IL-12 and STAT4 signaling. NK cell-specific deletion of Adrb2 resulted in impaired NK cell expansion and memory during MCMV challenge, in part due to a diminished proliferative capacity. As a result, NK cell-intrinsic adrenergic signaling was required for protection against MCMV. Taken together, we propose a novel role for the adrenergic nervous system in regulating circulating lymphocyte responses to viral infection. © 2020 Diaz-Salazar et al.
Journal Title: Journal of Experimental Medicine
Volume: 217
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0022-1007
Publisher: Rockefeller University Press  
Date Published: 2020-04-06
Start Page: e20190549
Language: English
DOI: 10.1084/jem.20190549
PUBMED: 32045471
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC7144534
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 2 March 2020 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Joseph C Sun
    132 Sun
  2. Colleen M Lau
    25 Lau
  3. Adriana Marie Mujal
    7 Mujal