Notably adaptive NKG2C+ NK cell subpopulations that arise in response to HCMV infection and expand during HIV-1 infection are imbued with enhanced ADCC capacity, in particular production of IFN-γ following CD16 ligation, reflecting epigenetic modifications and enhanced downstream signaling through CD3z homodimers in the absence of FcεRI-γ (15, 28). Here, IFNG is linked to cytomegalovirus infection.