Reduction of natural killer but not effector CD8 T lymphocytes in three consecutive cases of severe/lethal H1N1/09 influenza A virus infection.

Journal article

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.

Authors: Denney, L; Aitken, C; Li, C; Wilson-Davies, E; Kok, W

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• Journal: PloS one
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 5
• Pages: e10675
• Publication date: 2010-01-01
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010675
• EISSN: 1932-6203
• ISSN: 1932-6203
• Language: English
• Keywords: Radiography, Thoracic; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Lung; Middle Aged; Female; RNA, Viral; Freezing; Male; Killer Cells, Natural; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Humans; Young Adult; Health; Pregnancy; Fatal Outcome; Adult; Influenza, Human; Postmortem Changes