Figure 1.
Characterization of NK cell differentiation in symptomatic HSV-2 infected patients.
(A) Representative stainings for identification of CD56bright NK cells, and NKG2A-, CD57-, NKG2C-, LILRB1-, NKp46-, and NKG2D-positive CD56dim NK cells in PBMC from one patient with recurrent HSV-2 infection. For NKp46 and NKG2D, solid grey histograms display isotype controls and black lines display the respective specific stainings. (B) Frequency of NK cells out of total lymphocytes and CD56bright NK cells out of total NK cells. (C) Expression levels (mean fluorescence intensity, MFI) of NKG2D and NKp46 on CD56dim NK cells. (D) Expression (%) of NKG2A, NKG2C, CD57, and LILRB1 on CD56dim NK cells. In (B) through (D), closed circles represent asymptomatic (AS) HSV-2 seropositive individuals (n = 6) and open circles represent patients with recurrent (S) HSV-2 infection (n = 9). In (B) through (D), the Mann-Whitney rank sum test was used, n.s., not significant, bars represent mean.
Figure 2.
KIR expression on NK cells from symptomatic HSV-2 patients.
(A) Representative stainings for KIR2DL1-, KIR2DL3-, and KIR3DL1-positive CD56dim NK cells from one patient with recurrent HSV-2 infection. (B) KIR expression on CD56dim NK cells. (C) Frequency of CD56dim NK cells expressing 0, 1, 2, or 3 KIRs, as determined after a Boolean gating analysis for KIR2DL1, KIR2DL2/3, and KIR3DL1. In (B) and (C), closed circles represent asymptomatic (AS) HSV-2 seropositive individuals (n = 6) and open circles represent patients with recurrent (S) HSV-2 infection (n = 9). In (B) and (C), the Mann-Whitney rank sum test was used, n.s., not significant, bars represent means.
Figure 3.
NK cells from patients with symptomatic HSV-2 infection retain their capacity to degranulate.
(A) Representative staining for CD107a expression on unstimulated and K562 target cell-stimulated NK cells from one patient with symptomatic HSV-2 infection. (B) Level of CD56dim NK cell degranulation against K562 cells for asymptomatic (AS) HSV-2 seropositive individuals (n = 5) and patients with recurrent (S) HSV-2 infection (n = 5). The Mann-Whitney rank sum test was used, n.s., not significant, bars represent means.