Neurotransmitters regulate the migration and cytotoxicity in natural killer cells

Natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), the functional coordination of which are governed by various signal substances, are crucial in the body’s defense of tumor and virus-infected cells. We investigated the role of various neurotransmitters and hormones on the regulation of functional parameters, including NK cell cytotoxicity, and the migration of NK cells and CTL within a three-dimensional collagen lattice. Using peripheral blood CTL and NK cells, we show that the neurotransmitters endorphin, histamine and substance P increase NK cell cytotoxicity, while norepinephrine inhibits cytotoxicity. Moreover, substance P reduces migratory activity, while norepinephrine increases NK cell and CTL migration. Furthermore, all three steroid hormones which were investigated, namely cortisone, testosterone, and estradiol, had regulatory influence on both cytotoxicity and migration of NK cells. These results further specify the functional basis of the complex interconnection between the immune and neuro-endocrine systems.     

Hydrogen peroxide secreted by tumor-derived macrophages down-modulates signal-transducing zeta molecules and inhibits tumor-specific T cell-and natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity

Although alterations in CD3-associated signal-transducing molecules in tumor-infiltrating T cells of patients with advanced cancer have been previously described, the mechanism behind these changes is not known. We demonstrate that macrophages isolated from metastatic lymph nodes of patients with malignant melanoma down-regulate levels of CD3ζ in autologous peripheral blood T cells. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated monocytes derived from peripheral blood of healthy donors also induced decreased expression of CD3 and CD16-associated ζ chains similar to that observed in T cells and natural killer (NK) cells of patients with advanced cancer. Co-culture with activated monocytes impaired Ca²⁺ mobilization in peripheral blood derived-T cells when stimulated with monoclonal antibodies to CD3 and also strongly inhibited melanoma-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity and NK activity. The presence of catalase, a scavenger of H₂O₂, during co-culture almost totally abrogated the inhibitory effect of activated monocytes on melanoma-specific CTL lines and on NK cells. Pre-treatment of CTL or NK cells with nontoxic concentrations (1 × 10^?5 M) of H₂O₂ also severely reduced their cytotoxic activity which could be prevented by catalase. The decrease in CD3ζ and in CD16ζ expression, induced by macrophages isolated from metastatic lymph nodes or by LPS-stimulated monocytes, was also prevented by catalase when maintained throughout the co-culture period. The possibility that monocyte/macrophage-derived reactive oxygen metabolites contribute directly to alterations in signal transducing molecules of T cells and NK cells and to the mechanism of immunosuppression in individuals with cancer should be considered.     

自然杀伤细胞的抗病毒活性

自然杀伤细胞是一类不同于T、B淋巴细胞的多功能淋巴细胞，在抗病毒免疫中发挥着重要作用。目前关于自然杀伤细胞参与抗病毒反应的研究主要集中于以下3点：①自然杀伤细胞介导抗病毒反应的路径；②自然杀伤细胞受体的功能；③自然杀伤细胞及自然杀伤T细胞在抗病毒反应中的激活和作用机理。尽管其中仍然存在许多悬而未决的问题，但大量的研究从分子水平揭示了自然杀伤细胞在病毒感染过程中的功能和反应。     

树突状细胞对自然杀伤细胞功能调控的研究进展

树突状细胞（DC）和自然杀伤细胞（NK）分别在固有免疫和适应性免疫中发挥着关键作用,二者之间还存在着复杂的交互作用.就DC对NK细胞功能的影响而言,前者可以通过膜表面分子直接激活静息的NK细胞,也可以在趋化因子的作用下将NK细胞招募至炎症部位或次级淋巴结,通过分泌可溶性细胞因子促进NK细胞活化、增殖,增强产生IFN-γ的能力,提高细胞毒活性,进而增强其抗病毒、抗肿瘤等效应.DC对NK细胞功能调控的研究在感染、肿瘤和免疫排斥等的防治中具有重要意义.     

Up-regulation of natural killer cell cytotoxicity by interleukin-2: the effect of sex and parity.

PROBLEM: Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from some, but not all, female donors showed increased cytotoxicity in response to interleukin (IL)-2. METHOD OF STUDY: The effect of IL-2 on natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity was compared in nulliparous females, parous females, and males. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were preincubated for 20 or 72 hr with 5 or 100 U/ml IL-2 and cytotoxicity against K562 targets was then examined. RESULTS: In the parous females, only the 72-hr preincubation with 100 U/ml IL-2 significantly increased NK cell cytotoxicity, whereas nulliparous females also showed significantly increased cytotoxicity after a 20-hr preincubation with 100 U/ml IL-2. Neither female subject group had increased activity after preincubation for 20 or 72 hr with 5 U/ml IL-2. However, male peripheral blood lymphocytes also showed a significant increase in NK cell cytotoxicity when preincubated for 72 hr with 5 U/ml IL-2. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of IL-2 on NK cell cytotoxic activity may be related to sex and the state of parity.     

调节性T细胞对NK细胞体外杀伤乳腺癌细胞的影响

目的探讨调节性T细胞(Regulatory T cells,T-reg细胞)对NK细胞的影响及可能机制。方法流式细胞术(Flowcytometry,FCM)检测乳腺癌患者外周血中T-reg细胞、NK细胞以及T细胞亚群比例。乳酸脱氢酶(Lactate dehydrogenase,LDH)法检测NK细胞对四种乳腺癌细胞株杀伤活性。ELISA检测上清液中IFN-γ和TGF-β1含量。结果乳腺癌和健康人外周血T-reg细胞分别占CD4~+T细胞的(7.5±3.0)%和(5.1±1.5)%(P<0.01=。T-reg细胞能抑制NK细胞杀伤乳腺癌细胞,同时下调NK细胞分泌IFN-γ,上清液中TGF-β1含量随着T-reg细胞比例的增高而增加。结论T-reg细胞抑制NK细胞杀伤乳腺癌的作用,其机制与T-reg细胞分泌细胞因子TGF-β1有一定关系。     

9.1C3分子对人NK细胞和T细胞细胞毒作用的抑制效应

目的探讨9.1C3分子是否作为抑制型受体调节NK细胞和T细胞的杀伤功能。方法用抗CD56抗体和羊抗鼠IgG免疫磁珠分离混合淋巴细胞培养中活化的淋巴细胞 ,分选CD56 细胞和CD56 -细胞分别作为效应细胞。采用重导向杀伤实验(redirectedkillingassay,RKA)观察抗9.1C3抗体对效应细胞杀伤小鼠肥大细胞瘤细胞P815作用的影响。结果发现人NK细胞和T细胞对P815细胞均有一定的杀伤作用 ,在效靶比为4∶1 ,2∶1和1∶1时 ,NK细胞和T细胞的杀伤率分别为:6.4% ,3.4% ,1.1%和21.2 % ,16.7 % ,6.5 %。用抗CD16和抗CD3抗体分别刺激NK细胞和T细胞时 ,它们对P815细胞的细胞毒作用显著增强 ;在相同的效靶比例 ,它们对P815的杀伤率分别为:47.1 % ,32.2% ,19.1 %和64.4 % ,50.3% ,39.5 %。但用抗9.1C3抗体刺激效应细胞时 ,不仅NK细胞的杀伤作用完全被抑制 ,CD16介导的NK细胞的杀伤作用也被明显下调 ,其杀伤率仅为18.5 % ,9.7 %和7.0 % ;但对CD3介导的T细胞的杀伤作用只轻度被抑制。结论9.1C3分子可能是一种新的抑制型杀伤细胞受体 ,对NK细胞和T细胞细胞毒作用的负调节可能有所不同。     

Tumor associated antigen and interleukin-12 mRNA transfected dendritic cells enhance effector function of natural killer cells and antigen specific T-cells

Immunotherapy aiming at the combined activation of tumor associated antigen (TAA) specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and Natural Killer (NK) cells may be crucial to eradicate both MHC-I positive and negative tumors. Vaccination with mature dendritic cells (DC) transfected with mRNA encoding for TAA and the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-18 may increase NK cell and TAA specific CTL activity. We demonstrate here that IL-12 over-expressing human DC induces increased NK cell activation and effector function and confirm the increase in TAA specific CTL by TAA/IL-12 double transfected DC. The effects of IL-18 transfection were limited to phenotypic activation and down-regulation of tissue homing receptors and did not add to the effect of IL-12 on NK cell effector function. In conclusion, co-transfection of TAA and IL-12 mRNA into mature DCs offers a vaccine for the induction of an anti-tumor immune response mediated by CTL and NK effector cells.     

H2-D(d)-mediated upregulation of interleukin-4 production by natural killer T-cell and dendritic cell interaction

Natural killer T (NKT) cells are capable of subserving apparently opposite functions, the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-mediated enhancement of host defence and interleukin-4 (IL-4) -mediated immune regulation. Although dendritic cells (DCs) potently activate NKT cells, DC regulation of the IL-4-IFN-gamma balance via NKT-cell activation is not well characterized. In the present study, we examined the effect of DC treatment with CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN), a Toll-like receptor 9 ligand, on the induction of NKT-cell cytokine production. CpG-ODN-conditioned and alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer)-loaded myeloid DCs (CpG-DCs) from BALB/c mice showed enhanced ability to induce NKT-cell production of IL-4, but not IFN-gamma, compared to alpha-GalCer-loaded control DCs (not treated with CpG-ODN). The CpG-DCs expressed significantly higher levels of H2-D(d) than control DCs, and blocking of the H2-D(d) and Ly49 receptor interaction during antigen presentation completely abolished the enhanced ability of the CpG-DCs to induce NKT-cell production of IL-4. These findings demonstrate that DC recognition of the CpG motif leads to induction of enhanced IL-4 production by NKT cells via interaction of the augmented H2-D(d) with Ly49 receptors on NKT cells.     

HIV感染症状长期不进展者NK细胞变化研究

目的探讨HIV长期不进展者NK细胞的变化. 方法应用流式细胞术对HIV长期不进展者、典型进展者和HIV-抗体阴性正常对照外周血NK细胞、NKT细胞及NK细胞趋化因子受体等进行研究. 结果长期不进展者NKT细胞绝对计数与正常对照差异无统计学意义(P＝0.301),高于HIV感染者和艾滋病病人(P＝0.01, P＝0.002);长期不进展者NK细胞绝对计数低于正常对照(P＝0.03),高于HIV感染者和艾滋病病人(P＝0.005, P＜0.0001);长期不进展者NK细胞与CD4+ T淋巴细胞呈正相关(r＝0.393,P＝0.001);NKT细胞与CD8+ T淋巴细胞呈正相关(r＝0.372,P＝0.002).长期不进展者NK细胞表达的CCR5受体低于典型进展者和正常对照(P＜0.01). 结论 NK细胞的变化与HIV疾病进展相关,值得深入研究.     

Suppression of murine natural killer cell activity by adherent cells from aging mice

Natural killer (NK) cell activity declines with age in mice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of peritoneal and splenic adherent cells from young and old mice on NK activity to determine whether adherent cell suppressor function might contribute to this decline. Peritoneal adherent cells from old mice suppressed NK activity of young splenic non-adherent indicator cells more than peritoneal cells from young mice. Splenic adherent cells from old but not from young mice also suppressed this activity. That (1) the suppressive activity of the adherent cell populations was not affected by treatment with anti-Thy-1 plus complement, and that (2) the adherent cell population contained 77-92% cells positive for alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase activity, suggests that the active adherent suppressor cell may be a macrophage. Therefore, the age-related decline in NK activity in mice can be explained, in part, by an increase in adherent cell suppressor function.     

CD56bright natural killer cell subsets: Characterization of distinct functional responses to interleukin-2 and the c-kit ligand

Natural killer (NK) cells are bone marrow-derived large granular lymphocytes that express the CD56 surface antigen. The CD56^bright NK subset represents approximately 10 % of all NK cells and is thought to be the least differentiated NK cell component in blood. The most mature NK cell expresses CD56 at low density and CD16 (FcRγIII) at high density, whereas CD56^bright NK cells either lack CD 16 (CD56^brightCD16^?) or express it at low density (CD56^brightCD16^dim). c-kit is a tyrosine kinase receptor which is expressed on both CD34⁺ hemato-poietic precursor cells and CD56^bright NK cells. In the current study, we characterize interleukin (IL)-2 receptor (IL-2R) and c-kit expression in each of the CD56^bright subsets. Both the CD56^brightCD16^? and CD56^brightCD16^dim NK subsets express the high-affinity IL-2R and the c-kit receptor when isolated from fresh blood. However, each CD56^bright NK cell subset has distinct functional responses to IL-2, the c-kit ligand (KL), or both. Activation of the high-affinity IL-2R on CD56^brightCD16^? NK cells induces a proliferative response that is significantly weaker than that observed in the CD56^brightCD16^dim NK cell subset. Incubation of the CD56^brightCD16^? NK cell subset with KL significantly enhances IL-2-induced proliferation, while KL has no such effect on the CD56^brightCD16^dim NK subset. Activation of the high-affinity IL-2R in both CD56^bright subsets induces lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity, but the addition of KL has no effect on LAK activity. Co-stimulation of either CD56^bright subset with IL-12 and concentrations of IL-2 that only saturate the high-affinity IL-2R induces substantial interferon (IFN)-γ production. The addition of KL to this co-stimulatory signal enhances IFN-γ production in both CD56^bright NK subsets. The distinct functional responses to IL-2 and KL seen in the CD56^brightCD16^? and CD56^brightCD16^dim NK subsets provide insight into IL-2R signaling and suggest that each phenotype identifies a discrete stage of NK cell differentiation.     

Functional activity of natural killer cells and killer T cells in mice after ovarian transplantation

Tashkent Postgraduate Medical Institute, Ministry of Health of the USSR. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR N. A. Lopatkin). Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 112, No. 9, pp. 273–275, September, 1991.     

Differential expression of human granzymes A, B, and K in natural killer cells and during CD8+ T cell differentiation in peripheral blood

NK cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes can induce apoptosis in virus-infected and transformed target cells via the granule exocytosis pathway. The key components of the cytolytic granules are perforin and several serine esterases, termed granzymes. While the cellular distribution of human granzymes A (GrA) and B (GrB) has been well characterized much less is known about the expression pattern of human granzyme K (GrK). In this study GrA, GrB, and GrK expression was analyzed in human peripheral blood lymphocytes using flow cytometry. There was a distinct population of GrK expressing CD8+ T cells with a CD27+/CD28+/CCR5high/CCR7-/perforin-/low/IFN-gamma+ memory-like phenotype, while all CD56bright NK cells were also positive for GrK. In addition, GrK was also expressed in subpopulations of CD56+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, and TCRgammadelta+ T cells. In contrast, GrB was primarily expressed in CD56dim NK cells and differentiated memory CD8+ T cells with the CD27-/low/CD28-/low/CCR5-/low/CCR7-/CD11b+/perforinhigh phenotype. Only few CD8+ T cells expressed both GrB and GrK. GrA was found to be co-expressed in all GrB- and GrK-expressing T cells. Our findings suggest that granzyme expression during the differentiation process of memory CD8+ T cells might be as follows: GrA+/GrB-/GrK+ --> GrA+/GrB+/GrK+ --> GrA+/GrB+/GrK-.     

Spontaneous human lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity against tumor target cells. IX. The quantitation of natural killer cell activity

On analysis ofin vitro assays of human natural killer (NK) cell function the inadequacy of commonly used methods of expressing lytic activity was apparent. A comparison was made of the data obtained using modifications of two equations—the simple exponential fit and the von Krogh equations. Both of these equations were found to satisfy the following essential criteria for use in these assays. First, the majority of the results obtained in the chromium-release assay could be used in data reduction; second, the resultant dose-response curve was reduced to linearity; and third, a single numerical expression was obtained which was directly proportional to the cytotoxic activity. Of the two methods the more conventional exponential fit was found to be the simpler to use. The closeness of fit of the experimentally derived data to the ideal curves did not support the possibility that normal lymphocyte preparations contain suppressor cells capable of inhibiting NK activity. Data have also been presented showing that NK-sensitive targets could be categorized with respect to their susceptibility by comparing the slopes of the target cell survival curves obtained using the exponential fit equation. These observations are relevant to the accurate assessment of NK activity in patient populations and to the determination of the effects of disease and its treatment on this activity.     

The role of natural killer cells in autoimmune blistering diseases

The major focus of this paper is to describe and evaluate current information on the role of natural killer cells (NK cells) in the pathogenesis of blistering diseases. Until now, only pemphigus vulgaris (PV) has been studied. One co-culture study demonstrated that CD4⁺ T cells from the peripheral blood or perilesional skin of patients with active disease proliferate and secrete cytokines in the presence of major histocompatibility class II-expressing NK cells loaded with antigenic desmoglein self-peptides. Another study showed that NK cells can contribute to a T helper type 2-biased immune response through impaired interleukins (IL)-12 signaling and upregulation of IL, IL-10 and IL-5. Although significant data on other blistering diseases are unavailable at present, some studies implicate NK cells in disease progression. For instance, information on the role of NK cells in psoriasis and their production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) will be provided since several TNF-α-inhibitors are used in its treatment. Studies on alopecia areata are also included in this paper because NK cells seem to play a key role in its pathogenesis. This review highlights the potential importance of NK cells and NKT cells as members of the large repertoire of cells and soluble mediators that play a critical role in pathogenesis of blistering diseases and other autoimmune diseases involving the skin. Therefore, the authors advocate a greater focus and interest on the study of the interaction of NK cells and the skin.     

Rat interleukin-2-activated natural killer (A-NK) cell-mediated lysis is determined by the presence of CD18 on A-NK cells and the absence of major histocompatibility complex class I on target cells

The precise mechanism by which target cells are recognized and subsequently lysed by interleukin-2-activated natural killer (A-NK) cells is poorly understood. In this study the role of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and adhesion molecules in the recognition and lysis of tumor cells was investigated in a syngeneic Wag rat model. Preincubation of tumor cells with F(ab′)₂ fragments of anti-MHC class I monoclonal antibody (mAb) OX18 strongly enhanced the A-NK cell-mediated lysis. Also normal syngeneic cells such as T cells and A-NK cells became highly sensitive for lysis by A-NK cells after preincubation with mAb OX18. Two other mAb against MHC class I had no effect on lysis of target cells. These data indicate that masking of MHC class I on syngeneic tumor and normal cells by mAb OX18 is sufficient for A-NK cells to recognize target cells as non-self, resulting in lysis. In addition, we found that the presence of mAb against the β2 (CD18)-integrins blocked the lysis of all tumor cell lines by A-NK cells in ⁵¹Cr-release assays, also when target cells were preincubated with mAb OX18. Because of the absence of CD18 on most tumor cells we concluded that a CD18-associated integrin on A-NK cells is essential for lysis of target cells. These results show that in this syngeneic rat model CD18 on A-NK cells together with MHC class I on tumor cells determine A-NK cell-mediated lysis. Furthermore, we hypothesize that the anti-MHC class I OX18 recognizes an epitope on rat MHC class I which is, or is very close to, the restriction element determining A-NK cell-mediated lysis.     

Foxp3(high) and Foxp3(low) Treg cells differentially correlate with T helper 1 and natural killer cells in peripheral blood

Regulatory T (Treg) cells interact with B, natural killer (NK), and dendritic cells in addition to other T cells. In this study, we aimed at determining whether Foxp3(+) T cells and subpopulations have any correlation with other lymphocyte subsets and their functions in a systemic immune environment. Peripheral blood was drawn from 22 nonpregnant healthy women. T, B, and NK cell subpopulations were measured by immunophenotype analysis. Intracellular Foxp3, cytokine expression (tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], interferon-γ [IFN-γ], and interleukin-10 [IL]-10), and NK-cell cytotoxicity were analyzed by flow cytometric analysis. Correlations between Foxp3(+) T cells and other immune variables were analyzed under control of age and menstrual phases. Foxp3(+), Foxp3(low), and CD4(+)Foxp3(+) cells significantly correlated with CD4(+)CD25(+), CD4(+)CD25(dim), and CD4(+)CD25(bright) cells. Foxp3(+), Foxp3(low), and CD4(+)Foxp3(+) cells positively correlated with CD3(+) and CD3(+)CD4(+) T cells, but negatively correlated with CD3(-)CD56(+) and CD3(-)CD56(dim) NK cells. CD4(+)Foxp3(high) Treg cells were positively correlated with CD3(+)CD4(+)TNF-α(+) (p = 0.014) and negatively correlated with CD3(+)CD8(+)IL-10(+) T cells (p = 0.001). The ratio of type 1/2 cytokine-producing CD3(+)CD8(+) cells demonstrated a positive correlation with CD4(+)Foxp3(high) cells (p ≤ 0.01). CD8(+)Foxp3(+) cells were positively correlated with CD3(+)CD4(+)IL-10(+) cells (p = 0.007) and negatively correlated with CD3(+)CD8(+)TNF-α(+) cells (p = 0.008). In conclusion, each Foxp3(+) Treg cell subpopulation has unique immune interaction, which controls particular subsets of lymphocytes.