About this Research Topic
The rigid distinction between "adaptive" and "innate" immune cells has been questioned by several studies showing that innate immune cells are also endowed with a peculiar memory function, which is not induced by gene recombination and clonal expansion, but by epigenetic reprogramming. This form of adaptation of innate defenses has been described in different immune cells, including monocytes, macrophages and NK cells and has been defined "trained immunity". A population of adaptive NK cells endowed with "memory" features has been described in human and mouse CMV infection and is characterized by the expression of the NKG2C receptor and by increased IFN-γ production capacity. Similar long-lived memory-like NK cells have been generated following rechallenge with cytokine combination. Studies have shown that NK cells have the ability to recognize viral peptides through KIR, NKG2A and NKG2C receptors in different viral infections. The ability of HLA-I presented viral peptides to interfere with NK cell receptor engagement modifies the response to pathogens, leading to increased inhibition, or instead activation of NK cell function, depending on environmental conditions.
The findings mentioned above provide new therapeutic options for the control of infectious diseases and raise the question of whether NK cell-responses may be induced by vaccination and whether NK cells may be manipulated to boost their activity against viruses. Emerging data have shown that adaptive NK cells are involved in antiviral responses, including SARS-CoV-2, HIV-1, HBV, HCV. However, the mechanisms underlying the role of these cells in viral infections are largely undefined and require further investigation. The goal of this topic is to gather information on the role of innate immunity, as well as adaptive NK and trained immunity in the context of viral infections and vaccine responses.
The aim of this Research Topic is to evaluate the role of NK and adaptive NK cells in viral infections, with particular emphasis on SARS-CoV-2.
We welcome the submission of all article types, original research, reviews, perspective, brief research reports on the topics of interest, which include but are not limited to:
• Adaptive NK cells in SARS-CoV-2 infection
• Strategies to increase NK cell responses against viral infections
• Modulation of NK cell activity by viral peptides
• Trained immunity in viral infections
• Cytokine induced memory like NK cells in viral infections
• Mechanisms of viral immune evasion
• HLA and KIR in viral infections
• NK cells and vaccines
The findings mentioned above provide new therapeutic options for the control of infectious diseases and raise the question of whether NK cell-responses may be induced by vaccination and whether NK cells may be manipulated to boost their activity against viruses. Emerging data have shown that adaptive NK cells are involved in antiviral responses, including SARS-CoV-2, HIV-1, HBV, HCV. However, the mechanisms underlying the role of these cells in viral infections are largely undefined and require further investigation. The goal of this topic is to gather information on the role of innate immunity, as well as adaptive NK and trained immunity in the context of viral infections and vaccine responses.
The aim of this Research Topic is to evaluate the role of NK and adaptive NK cells in viral infections, with particular emphasis on SARS-CoV-2.
We welcome the submission of all article types, original research, reviews, perspective, brief research reports on the topics of interest, which include but are not limited to:
• Adaptive NK cells in SARS-CoV-2 infection
• Strategies to increase NK cell responses against viral infections
• Modulation of NK cell activity by viral peptides
• Trained immunity in viral infections
• Cytokine induced memory like NK cells in viral infections
• Mechanisms of viral immune evasion
• HLA and KIR in viral infections
• NK cells and vaccines
Keywords: Adaptive Natural Killer cells, Innate immunity, Trained immunity, Vaccine, SARS COV-2.
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
