Natural killer cell response to BK virus infection in polyoma virus-associated nephropathy of renal transplant recipients

The mechanisms of injury and advantage secured by opportunistic infection with polyoma virus in renal transplant patients are not completely known. Patient virus-specific T cells play a large role in elimination of reactivated polyoma virus. Natural killer (NK) cells are early responders in antiviral response. Inflammatory NK-cell antiviral responses involve activation receptors such as killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) interacting with host-cell major histocompatibility complex class I molecules, altering cell sensitivity to lysis by NK cells.