ArticlePLoS pathogens2013
Human cytomegalovirus infection elicits new decidual natural killer cell effector functions.
Article in PLoS pathogens, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 105 papers.
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Who cites it
105 citing papers in PubMed, 158 citations in OpenAlex.
- Hepatitis C Virus Sensing by Human Trophoblasts Induces Innate Immune Responses and Recruitment of Maternal NK Cells: Potential Implications for Limiting Vertical Transmission.Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) · 2015Trial
- Human cytomegalovirus at the maternal-fetal interface: an overview of pathogenesis, defence, and interventions.Clinical science (London, England : 1979) · 2026Review
- Uterine natural killer cell-mediated immune imbalance impairs uterine vascular remodeling and contributes to adverse pregnancy outcomes in dengue virus-infected mice.Microbiology spectrum · 2026Article
- Icariin Modulates the Reproductive-Immune Axis: Molecular Insights and Therapeutic Potential.Current issues in molecular biology · 2026Review
- Phenotypically similar but functionally distinct NK cell populations within the human maternal-fetal interface.ImmunoHorizons · 2026Article
- Dual Role of Natural Killer Cells in Early Pregnancy: Immunopathological Implications and Therapeutic Potential in Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion and Recurrent Implantation Failure.Cell proliferation · 2025Review
- Review
- Placenta - A Competent, But Not Infallible, Antiviral and Antiparasitic Barrier.Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) · 2025Review
- Granulysin-high decidual NK cells in macaques and humans share signatures of immune defense.Cell reports · 2025Article
- Immune dysregulation of decidual NK cells mediated by GRIM19 downregulation contributes to the occurrence of recurrent pregnancy loss.Molecular and cellular biochemistry · 2025Article
- The placental battlefield: viral strategies and immune countermeasures.Frontiers in immunology · 2025Review
- Immune surveillance of cytomegalovirus in tissues.Cellular & molecular immunology · 2024Review
- Article
- No time to die: Epigenetic regulation of natural killer cell survival.Immunological reviews · 2024Review
- Maternal-Fetal Compatibility in Recurrent Pregnancy Loss.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Review
- NK cell receptor profiling of endometrial and decidual NK cells reveals pregnancy-induced adaptations.Frontiers in immunology · 2024Article
- Review
- Palmitic Acid Upregulates CD96 Expression to Mediate Maternal-Foetal Interface Immune Tolerance by Inhibiting Cytotoxic Activity and Promoting Adhesion Function in Human Decidual Natural Killer Cells.Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Gestational Viral Infections: Role of Host Immune System.Microorganisms · 2023Review
- Local immune recognition of trophoblast in early human pregnancy: controversies and questions.Nature reviews. Immunology · 2023Review
45 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issuedBouteiller, Philippe [corrected to Le Bouteiller, Philippe]
Authors and funding
8 authors at 2 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
During the first trimester of pregnancy the uterus is massively infiltrated by decidual natural killer cells (dNK). These cells are not killers, but they rather provide a microenvironment that is propitious to healthy placentation. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most common cause of intrauterine viral infections and a known cause of severe birth defects or fetal death. The rate of HCMV congenital infection is often low in the first trimester of pregnancy. The mechanisms controlling HCMV spreading during pregnancy are not yet fully revealed, but evidence indicating that the innate immune system plays a role in controlling HCMV infection in healthy adults exists. In this study, we investigated whether dNK cells could be involved in controlling viral spreading and in protecting the fetus against congenital HCMV infection. We found that freshly isolated dNK cells acquire major functional and phenotypic changes when they are exposed to HCMV-infected decidual autologous fibroblasts. Functional studies revealed that dNK cells, which are mainly cytokines and chemokines producers during normal pregnancy, become cytotoxic effectors upon their exposure to HCMV-infected autologous decidual fibroblasts. Both the NKG2D and the CD94/NKG2C or 2E activating receptors are involved in the acquired cytotoxic function. Moreover, we demonstrate that CD56(pos) dNK cells are able to infiltrate HCMV-infected trophoblast organ culture ex-vivo and to co-localize with infected cells in situ in HCMV-infected placenta. Taken together, our results present the first evidence suggesting the involvement of dNK cells in controlling HCMV intrauterine infection and provide insights into the mechanisms through which these cells may operate to limit the spreading of viral infection to fetal tissues.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.