Expression of the p60 Autolysin Enhances NK Cell Activation and Is Required for Listeria monocytogenes Expansion in IFN- -Responsive Mice

A LysM and SH3-Domain Containing Region of the Listeria monocytogenes p60 Protein Stimulates Accessory Cells to Promote Activation of Host NK Cells

Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) infection induces rapid and robust activation of host natural killer (NK) cells. Here we define a region of the abundantly secreted Lm endopeptidase, p60, that potently but indirectly stimulates NK cell activation in vitro and in vivo. Lm expression of p60 resulted in increased IFNγ production by naïve NK cells co-cultured with treated dendritic cells (DCs). Moreover...

NK Cell Activation and Is Required for Expression of the p60 Autolysin Enhances

Bacterial Manipulation of NK Cell Regulatory Activity Increases Susceptibility to Listeria monocytogenes Infection

Natural killer (NK) cells produce interferon (IFN)-γ and thus have been suggested to promote type I immunity during bacterial infections. Yet, Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) and some other pathogens encode proteins that cause increased NK cell activation. Here, we show that stimulation of NK cell activation increases susceptibility during Lm infection despite and independent from robust NK cell pr...

Early IFN-gamma production and innate immunity during Listeria monocytogenes infection in the absence of NK cells.

NK cells are believed to play a mandatory role during the early phases of Listeria monocytogenes infection by producing IFN-gamma, which is required for the activation of macrophage effector functions. Mice deficient in the common cytokine receptor gamma-chain (gamma(c)-/-), which completely lack NK cells, were used to examine whether NK cells were essential for resistance to Listeria infection...

Activation of naive NK cells in response to Listeria monocytogenes requires IL-18 and contact with infected dendritic cells.

The mechanisms for NK cell activation during infection by intracellular bacterial pathogens are not clearly defined. To dissect how Listeria monocytogenes infection elicits NK cell activation, we evaluated the requirements for activation of naive splenic NK cells by infected bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). We found that NK cell activation in this setting required infection of BMDCs...