Natural Killer Cells Regulate Acute SIV Replication, Dissemination, and Inflammation, but Do Not Impact Independent Transmission Events
Griffin Woolley, Matthew Mosher, Kyle Kroll, Rhianna Jones, Brady Hueber, Sho K. Sugawara, Cordelia Manickam, Karen Terry, Valerie Varner, Michelle A. Lifton, Daniel R. Ram, Christine M. Fennessey, Brandon F. Keele, R. Keith Reeves
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells as major effector cells of the innate immune system can contribute significantly to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) control. However, a specific role for NK cells in blocking lentivirus transmission remains incompletely clear. In this study, we depleted NK cells prior to challenge with a barcoded SIV. Importantly, our studied showed systemic NK cell depletion was associated with a significant increase in acute viremia, but did not impact the number of independent transmission events. Collectively, these data suggest NK cells are critical modulators of early lentivirus replication but may not regulate individual transmission events at mucosal portals of entry.