The role of natural killer cells in host defence against varicella

自然杀伤细胞在宿主防御水痘中的作用

• 批准号: G0701897/1
• 负责人: Sophie Hambleton
• 金额: $ 116.7万
• 依托单位: Newcastle University
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Fellowship
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2008 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=G0701897%2F1
• 关键词: role; natural; killer; cells; host

We know that the lymphocytes of our immune system are very important for control of the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles, VZV. When immunity is suppressed, for instance by cancer chemotherapy, chickenpox may be a very severe illness. Occasionally, previously healthy children become similarly unwell, prompting us to ask if their immune system is faulty. Often, none of the known causes of inherited immunodeficiency can be found, but in rare cases there is a shortage of natural killer (NK) lymphocytes. This may be giving us a clue about how VZV is contained by the normal immune system.In the first part of this project we will investigate whether and how NK cells could contribute to the control of VZV in normal individuals. We will then study antiviral immune responses in children who have suffered unusually severe chickenpox. If we are right that NK cells help to control VZV, we predict that some of these children will have inherited problems with NK function. We will try to identify which specific genes are faulty. Improved understanding of the way the immune system interacts with viruses like VZV will help us to look after a broader group of affected children and adults.

我们知道，免疫系统的淋巴细胞对于控制引起水痘和带状疱疹的病毒（VZV）非常重要。当免疫力受到抑制时，例如癌症化疗，水痘可能是一种非常严重的疾病。有时，以前健康的孩子也会出现类似的不适，这促使我们怀疑他们的免疫系统是否有问题。通常，无法找到遗传性免疫缺陷的已知原因，但在极少数情况下，会出现自然杀伤 (NK) 淋巴细胞的短缺。这可能为我们提供了有关正常免疫系统如何控制 VZV 的线索。在本项目的第一部分中，我们将研究 NK 细胞是否以及如何有助于控制正常个体中的 VZV。然后，我们将研究患有异常严重水痘的儿童的抗病毒免疫反应。如果我们正确地认为 NK 细胞有助于控制 VZV，我们预测其中一些儿童将患有 NK 功能的遗传问题。我们将尝试找出哪些特定基因有缺陷。更好地了解免疫系统与水痘带状疱疹病毒等病毒相互作用的方式将有助于我们照顾更广泛的受影响儿童和成人群体。