[HTML][HTML] Reduction of natural killer but not effector CD8 t lymphoyctes in three consecutive cases of severe/lethal H1N1/09 influenza a virus infection
PloS one, 2010•journals.plos.org
Background The cause of severe disease in some patients infected with pandemic influenza
A virus is unclear. Methodology/Principal Findings We present the cellular immunology
profile in the blood, and detailed clinical (and post-mortem) findings of three patients with
rapidly progressive infection, including a pregnant patient who died. The striking finding is of
reduction in natural killer (NK) cells but preservation of activated effector CD8 T
lymphocytes; with viraemia in the patient who had no NK cells. Comparison with control …
A virus is unclear. Methodology/Principal Findings We present the cellular immunology
profile in the blood, and detailed clinical (and post-mortem) findings of three patients with
rapidly progressive infection, including a pregnant patient who died. The striking finding is of
reduction in natural killer (NK) cells but preservation of activated effector CD8 T
lymphocytes; with viraemia in the patient who had no NK cells. Comparison with control …
Background
The cause of severe disease in some patients infected with pandemic influenza A virus is unclear.
Methodology/Principal Findings
We present the cellular immunology profile in the blood, and detailed clinical (and post-mortem) findings of three patients with rapidly progressive infection, including a pregnant patient who died. The striking finding is of reduction in natural killer (NK) cells but preservation of activated effector CD8 T lymphocytes; with viraemia in the patient who had no NK cells. Comparison with control groups suggests that the reduction of NK cells is unique to these severely ill patients.
Conclusion/Significance
Our report shows markedly reduced NK cells in the three patients that we sampled and raises the hypothesis that NK may have a more significant role than T lymphocytes in controlling viral burden when the host is confronted with a new influenza A virus subtype.
PLOS