γ干扰素对人NK细胞识别功能的负调节作用

目的 探讨γ干扰素(IFN-γ)对人NK细胞识别功能的负调节作用。方法 用MTT法测定人NK细胞系(NK92,NKL)的细胞毒活性及细胞增殖能力;用RT-PCR检测NK细胞受体(NKG2D、NKG2A／B、KIR2DLI、KIR2DSI)及NKG2D的识别配体主要组织相容性复合体Ⅰ类链相关分子A(MICA)的表达。结果 NK细胞系(NK92、NKL)对MICA表达阳性的肿瘤细胞杀伤活性明显高于对MICA表达阴性者;IFN-γ 1000U／ml以上可明显抑制NK细胞对MICA表达阳性肿瘤细胞的细胞毒活性,并轻度抑制NK细胞的增殖,而对MICA表达阴性肿瘤细胞的杀伤活性无明显抑制作用;IFN-γ可抑制NK细胞系活化受体NKG2D的表达,增强抑制性受体NKG2A／B和KIR2DLI的表达。结论 IFN-γ可能通过下调NK细胞活化受体的表达,上调抑制性受体的表达,使NK识别的信号平衡向抑制性方向倾斜,从而对NK细胞功能发挥负调节作用,这种作用可能是NK细胞自我调节功能的表现。     

An Fc‐optimized NKG2D‐immunoglobulin G fusion protein for induction of natural killer cell reactivity against leukemia

Recruitment of Fc‐receptor‐bearing effector cells, such as natural killer (NK) cells, is a feature critical for the therapeutic success of antitumor antibodies and can be improved by the modifications of an antibody's Fc part. The various ligands of the activating immunoreceptor NKG2D, NKG2DL) are selectively expressed on malignant cells including leukemia. We here took advantage of the tumor‐associated expression of NKG2DL for targeting leukemic cells by NKG2D–immunoglobulin G (IgG)1 fusion proteins containing modified Fc parts. Compared to NKG2D–Fc containing a wild‐type Fc part (NKG2D–Fc–WT), our mutants (S239D/I332E and E233P/L234V/L235A/ΔG236/A327G/A330S) displayed highly enhanced (NKG2D–Fc–ADCC) and abrogated (NKG2D–Fc–KO) affinity to the NK cell Fc receptor, respectively. Functional analyses with allogenic as well as autologous NK cells and primary malignant cells of leukemia patients revealed that NKG2D–Fc–KO significantly reduced NK reactivity by blocking immunostimulatory NKG2D–NKG2DL interaction. NKG2D–Fc–WT already enhanced antileukemia reactivity by inducing antibody‐dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) with NKG2D–Fc–ADCC mediating significantly stronger effects. Parallel application of NKG2D–Fc–ADCC with Rituximab caused additive effects in lymphoid leukemia. In line with the tumor‐associated expression of NKG2DL, no NK cell ADCC against resting healthy blood cells was induced. Thus, NKG2D–Fc–ADCC potently enhances NK antileukemia reactivity despite the inevitable reduction of activating signals upon binding to NKG2DL and may constitute an attractive means for immunotherapy of leukemia.     

Regulation of the expression of MHC class I-related chain A, B (MICA, MICB) via chromatin remodeling and its impact on the susceptibility of leukemic cells to the cytotoxicity of NKG2D-expressing cells.

Innate immune cells such as natural killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in antitumor immune responses. NKG2D is a major activating immunoreceptor expressed in not only NK cells but also CD8+ T cells and shows cytotoxicity against tumors by recognizing its ligands major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A and B (MICA and MICB) on tumor cells. Recently, it has been suggested that NKG2D-mediated cytotoxicity correlates with the expression levels of NKG2D ligands on target cells. In this study, we were able to increase the expression levels of MICA and MICB on leukemic cell lines and patients' leukemic cells by treatment with trichostatin A (TsA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays revealed that treatment with TsA resulted in increased acetylation of histone H3 and decreased association with HDAC1 at the promoters of MICA and MICB. Intriguingly, upregulation of MICA and MICB by treatment with TsA led to enhancement of the susceptibility of leukemic cells to the cytotoxicity of NKG2D-expressing cells. Our results suggest that regulation of the expression of NKG2D ligands by treatment with chromatin-remodeling drugs may be an attractive strategy for immunotherapy.     

Ataxia–telangiectasia mutated kinase‐mediated upregulation of NKG2D ligands on leukemia cells by resveratrol results in enhanced natural killer cell susceptibility

The powerful activating receptor NKG2D is expressed by natural killer (NK) cells and promotes cytotoxic lysis of cancer cells expressing NKG2D ligands (NKG2D‐Ls). We report the effective induction of NKG2D‐Ls, achieved with the naturally occurring polyphenol resveratrol, in a broad range of leukemia cells. In this study, resveratrol upregulated the NKG2D‐Ls MHC class I chain‐related proteins MICA and MICB, and UL16‐binding proteins ULBP1, ULBP2, and ULBP3 in most of the leukemia cells analyzed. Ligand upregulation induced by resveratrol was impaired by pharmacological and genetic disruption of ataxia–telangiectasia mutated kinase, the main regulator of NKG2D‐L expression. Leukemia cells treated with resveratrol were more susceptible to killing by NK cells than untreated cells, and the enhanced cytotoxicity of NK cells was blocked by treatment of NK cells with anti‐NKG2D mAbs. Interestingly, resveratrol consistently upregulated the NKG2D receptor expression and enhanced NKG2D‐mediated functions in resting NK cells obtained from healthy individuals. Therefore, resveratrol has attractive immunotherapeutic potential.     

Interferon‐γ down‐regulates NKG2D ligand expression and impairs the NKG2D‐mediated cytolysis of MHC class I‐deficient melanoma by natural killer cells

NKG2D operates as an activating receptor on natural killer (NK) cells and costimulates the effector function of αβ CD8⁺ T cells. Ligands of NKG2D, the MHC class I chain‐related (MIC) and UL16 binding protein (ULBP) molecules, are expressed on a variety of human tumors, including melanoma. Recent studies in mice demonstrated that NKG2D mediates tumor immune surveillance, suggesting that antitumor immunity in humans could be enhanced by therapeutic manipulation of NKG2D ligand (NKG2DL) expression. However, signals and mechanisms regulating NKG2DL expression still need to be elucidated. Here, we asked whether the proinflammatory cytokine Interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) affects NKG2DL expression in melanoma. Cell lines, established from MHC class I‐negative and ‐positive melanoma metastases, predominantly expressed MICA and ULBP2 molecules on their surface. Upon IFN‐γ treatment, expression of MICA, in some cases, also of ULBP2 decreased. Besides melanoma, this observation was made also for glioma cells. Down‐regulation of NKG2DL surface expression was dependent on the cytokine dose and the duration of treatment, but was neither due to an intracellular retention of the molecules nor to an increased shedding of ligands from the tumor cell surface. Instead, quantitative RT‐PCR revealed a decrease of MICA‐specific mRNA levels upon IFN‐γ treatment and siRNA experiments pointed to an involvement of STAT‐1 in this process. Importantly, IFN‐γ‐treated MHC class I‐negative melanoma cells were less susceptible to NKG2D‐mediated NK cell cytotoxicity. Our study suggests that IFN‐γ, by down‐regulating ligand expression, might facilitate escape of MHC class I‐negative melanoma cells from NKG2D‐mediated killing by NK cells. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A and UL16-binding protein expression on tumor cell lines of different histotypes: analysis of tumor susceptibility to NKG2D-dependent natural killer cell cytotoxicity

NKG2D, together with NKp46 and NKp30, represents a major triggering receptor involved in the induction of cytotoxicity by both resting and activated human natural killer cells. In this study, we analyzed the expression and the functional relevance of MHC class I-related chain A (MICA) and UL16 binding protein (ULBP), the major cellular ligands for human NKG2D, in human tumor cell lines of different histological origin. We show that MICA and ULBP are frequently coexpressed by carcinoma cell lines, whereas MICA is expressed more frequently than ULBP by melanoma cell lines. Interestingly, the MICA(-) ULBP(+) phenotype was detected in most T cell leukemia cell lines, whereas the MICA(-) ULBP(-) phenotype characterized all acute myeloid leukemia and most B-cell lymphoma cell lines analyzed. These results, together with functional experiments, based on monoclonal antibody-mediated blocking of either NKG2D or its ligands, showed that killing of certain MICA(-) cell tumors is at least in part NKG2D dependent. Indeed, leukemic T cells as well as certain B-cell lymphomas were killed in a NKG2D-dependent fashion upon recognition of ULBP molecules. Moreover, ULBP could induce NKG2D-mediated NK cell triggering also in tumors coexpressing MICA. Our data suggest that the involvement of NKG2D in natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity strictly correlates with the expression and the surface density of MICA and ULBP on target cell tumors of different histotypes.     

丙戊酸钠上调人肾癌细胞MICA/B的表达并增强自然杀伤细胞的抗肿瘤活性

目的:观察丙戊酸钠(valproic acid,VPA)对人肾癌细胞主要组织相容性复合体Ⅰ类相关链A/B (major histocompatibility complex class Ⅰ -related chain A/B,MICA/B)表达的影响,比较肾癌细胞经VPA处理前后自然杀伤( natural liller,NK)细胞对其杀伤作用的差异.方法:用0.5～8.0 mmol/L VPA分别处理人肾癌786-O和ACHN细胞后,应用FCM检测不同浓度VPA对细胞活力的影响.选择4.0 mmol/L VPA处理肾癌细胞,通过实时荧光定量PCR和FCM分别检测肾癌细胞MICA/B mRNA和蛋白的表达水平；钙黄绿素释放法和FCM分别检测VPA处理肾癌细胞后NK细胞对其的杀伤作用以及NK细胞的脱颗粒行为.结果:8.0 mmol/L VPA处理肾癌细胞48 h后,对肾癌细胞活力的影响大于其他处理组(P＜0.05); 4.0 mmol/L VPA处理组肾癌细胞MICA/BmRNA和蛋白的表达水平均明显高于未经VPA处理的对照组(P＜0.05); 4.0 mmol/L VPA处理组NK细胞对肾癌细胞的杀伤率明显高于未经VPA处理的对照组(P＜0.05),且杀伤率的升高可被抗NKG2D (natural-killer group 2,member D)抗体特异性拮抗；肾癌细胞经4.0 mmol/L VPA处理后,其激活NK细胞的脱颗粒作用明显强于未经VPA处理的对照组(P＜0.05).结论:VPA可以明显上调肾癌细胞MICA/B的表达,增强NK细胞对其的杀伤活性.     

Valproic Acid Upregulates NKG2D Ligand Expression through an ERK-dependent Mechanism and Potentially Enhances NK Cell-mediated Lysis of Myeloma

Modulation of the antitumor immune response through the engagement of NKG2D receptors with their ligands (L) on targets represents a promising therapeutic approach against cancer. In this study, we tested the effect of valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, on the expression of NKG2D ligands in myeloma cells. We demonstrated that VPA was able to upregulate both protein and mRNA expression of major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain (MIC) A/B and UL16-binding protein (ULBP) 2 without any significant effect on the expression of ULBP1, ULBP3, and ULBP4 or induction of other natural killer (NK) cell ligands, such as NKp30-L, NKp44-L, and NKp46-L in myeloma cells. A ⁵¹Cr release assay and degranulation assay indicated that the induction of MICA/B and ULBP2 augmented NK cell-mediated lysis of myeloma cells, which was abolished by the addition of a blocking NKG2D antibody. Activation of constitutively phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) by VPA is essential for the up-regulation of MICA/B and ULBP2 expressions. Inhibition of ERK using ERK inhibitor PD98059 decreased both MICA/B and ULBP2 expressions and NK cell cytotoxicity. Furthermore, overexpression of constitutively active ERK in ARK resulted in increased MICA/B and ULBP2 expressions and enhanced NK cell lysis. These data indicate that increased sensitivity of VPA-treated myeloma cells to NK cell lysis is caused by higher NKG2D ligand expression, resulting from more active ERK signaling pathway. Our results provide evidence that targeting ERK signaling pathway may be an additional mechanism supporting the antimyeloma activity of HDAC inhibitors and suggest its possible immunotherapeutic value for myeloma treatment.     

Sodium valproate, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, augments the expression of cell-surface NKG2D ligands, MICA/B, without increasing their soluble forms to enhance susceptibility of human osteosarcoma cells to NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity

MHC class I-related chain molecules A and B (MICA and B) expressed on the cell-surface of tumor cells are ligands for an activating receptor, NKG2D, expressed on natural killer (NK) cells and stimulate the NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. On the other hand, the soluble form of MICA and B produced by proteolytic cleavage of cell-surface MIC interferes with NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. We investigated effect of sodium valproate (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, on the production of cell-surface and soluble MICA and B and NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity in four human osteosarcoma cells. VPA at 0.5 and 1.0 mM induced acetylation of histones bound to MICA and B gene promoters, increased cell-surface but not soluble MICA and B, and augmented the susceptibility of osteosarcoma cells to NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. The present results indicate that VPA sensitizes human osteosarcoma cells to cytotoxicity of NK cells.     

Valproic acid cooperates with hydralazine to augment the susceptibility of human osteosarcoma cells to Fas- and NK cell-mediated cell death

We investigated the effects of valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, in combination with hydralazine, a DNA methylation inhibitor, on the expression of cell-surface Fas and MHC-class I-related chain molecules A and B (MICA and B), the ligands of NKG2D which is an activating receptor of NK cells, and on production of their soluble forms in HOS, U-2 OS and SaOS-2 human osteosarcoma cell lines. We also examined the susceptibility of these cells to Fas- and NK cell-mediated cell death. VPA did not increase the expression of Fas on the surface of osteosarcoma cells, while hydralazine did, and the combination of VPA with hydralazine increased the expression of cell-surface Fas. In contrast, the combination of VPA with hydralazine did not increase the production of soluble Fas by osteosarcoma cells. Both VPA and hydralazine increased the expression of cell-surface MICA and B in osteosarcoma cells, and their combination induced a greater increase in their expression. VPA inhibited the production of both soluble MICA and MICB by osteosarcoma cells while hydralazine produced no effect. Both VPA and hydralazine enhanced the susceptibility of osteosarcoma cells to Fas- and NK cell-mediated cell death and the combination of VPA with hydralazine further enhanced the effects. The present results suggest that combined administration of VPA and hydrazine is valuable for enhancing the therapeutic effects of immunotherapy for osteosarcomas.     

Novel role for STAT3 in transcriptional regulation of NK immune cell targeting receptor MICA on cancer cells

The role of natural killer group 2, member D receptor (NKG2D)-expressing natural killer (NK) cells in tumor immunosurveillance is now well established. Nevertheless, tumor progression occurs despite tumor immunosurveillance, leading to cancer persistence in immunocompetent hosts. STAT3 plays a pivotal role both in oncogenic functions and in immunosuppression. In this study, we investigated the role of STAT3 in suppressing NK cell-mediated immunosurveillance. Using a colorectal cancer cell line (HT29) that can poorly activate NK, we neutralized STAT3 with pharmacologic inhibitors or siRNA and found that this led to an increase in NK degranulation and IFN-γ production in a TGF-β1-independent manner. Exposure to NKG2D-neutralizing antibodies partially restored STAT3 activity, suggesting that it prevented NKG2D-mediated NK cell activation. On this basis, we investigated the expression of NKG2D ligands after STAT3 activation in HT29, mesenchymal stem cells, and activated lymphocytes. The NK cell recognition receptor MHC class I chain-related protein A (MICA) was upregulated following STAT3 neutralization, and a direct interaction between STAT3 and the MICA promoter was identified. Because cross-talk between DNA damage repair and NKG2D ligand expression has been shown, we assessed the influence of STAT3 on MICA expression under conditions of genotoxic stress. We found that STAT3 negatively regulated MICA expression after irradiation or heat shock, including in lymphocytes activated by CD3/CD28 ligation. Together, our findings reveal a novel role for STAT3 in NK cell immunosurveillance by modulating the MICA expression in cancer cells.     

地西他滨对人急性髓系白血病细胞株HL-60的调控作用及其机制研究

目的 研究地西他滨(DAC)对人急性髓系白血病细胞株HL-60体外生长及自然杀伤(NK)细胞活化性受体配体(NKG2DL)表达的调节作用,并探讨JAK-STAT3-SOCS信号通路相关的分子机制.方法 CCK-8法检测DAC对HL-60细胞增殖活性的影响,Annexin-V/PI双标法检测细胞凋亡,流式细胞术检测HL-60细胞表面NKG2DL分子MICA/B、ULBP的表达,羧基荧光素双乙酸盐(CFSE)法检测NK细胞的杀伤活性,蛋白印迹法分析细胞内JAK-STAT3通路中STAT3、STAT3上游激酶JAK1、JAK2及STAT3活性负调控因子细胞因子信号抑制物(SOCS)-1、SOCS-3的蛋白表达水平,甲基化敏感性高分辨率熔解曲线分析(MS-HRM)检测DAC处理后SOCS-1、SOCS-3基因甲基化程度.结果 DAC可抑制HL-60细胞活性:0.2、0.5和1.0 μmol/L DAC处理48 h,HL-60细胞活性较对照组分别下降(25±11)%、(39±8)%和(50±7)%(P<0.01);48 h时,细胞凋亡发生率分别为(24.77±7.50)%、(27.10±4.48)%和(30.53±3.93)%,均较对照组细胞的(3.11±0.50)%增加(P<0.01).DAC可诱导HL-60细胞表面MICA/B、ULBP-1及ULBP-3分子的表达增高,增强HL-60细胞对NK细胞的杀伤敏感性.DAC处理后HL-60细胞内STAT3、JAK1、JAK2及p-STAT3、p-JAK1、p-JAK2表达下降,SOCS-1和SOCS-3蛋白表达增高.DAC可抑制SOCS-3基因甲基化.结论 DAC抑制人急性髓系白血病细胞株HL-60增殖,上调HL-60细胞对NKG2DL的表达,增强NK细胞对其的杀伤活性,其机制可能与细胞内JAK-STAT3-SOCS信号通路的活性调控有关.     

苦参碱诱导自然杀伤细胞对白血病K562细胞杀伤的实验研究

目的 探讨中药苦参碱对人自然杀伤（NK）细胞体外杀伤白血病细胞的作用及可能的分子机制.方法 以人慢性粒细胞白血病K562细胞为靶细胞,采用CFSE/PI双染色法流式细胞术检测不同质量浓度（02、0.5、0.8 mg/ml）苦参碱处理后,人NK细胞在不同效靶比下对K562细胞的体外杀伤活性.流式细胞术分析不同浓度苦参碱处理24 h对NK细胞主要活化性受体NKG2D和抑制性受体CD158a、CD158b表达的影响及K562细胞膜上NKG2D配体MICA/B、ULBP1、ULBP 2、ULBP 3表达的改变.结果 效靶比为5∶1时,NK细胞对0.2、0.5和0.8 mg/ml苦参碱处理后的K562细胞杀伤率分别为32.8％、38.1％和40.5％,较处理前均有不同程度增高（29.2％）;但进一步增加效靶比（10：1）后,NK细胞杀伤活性改变差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.苦参碱处理24 h,NK细胞抑制性受体CD158a、CD158b的表达均较处理前降低,而活化受体NKG2D的表达则增高.K562细胞表面NKG2D配体ULBP1和ULBP2分子的表达也较处理前增高（平均荧光强度分别为174.33±39.93比275.67±32.88,517.6±47.97比1368.6±49.43,P＜0.05）.结论 苦参碱可增强NK细胞对白血病K562细胞的体外杀伤活性,其机制可能与NK细胞受体及配体表达调节作用有关.     

耐地塞米松B细胞淋巴瘤细胞逃逸同种异体NK细胞的杀伤及其机制

目的:观察地塞米松耐药的人B细胞淋巴瘤细胞系对NK细胞杀伤敏感性的变化,并探讨其作用机制。方法:20μg/ml地塞米松(dexamethasone,DXM)诱导B细胞淋巴瘤细胞系SU-DHL-4(简称SU细胞)发生耐药,建立多药耐药细胞系SU/DXM。流式细胞术分选健康人外周血NK细胞,流式细胞术检测效靶比20∶1时,NK细胞对SU和SU/DXM细胞的杀伤效应。实时定量PCR检测SU和SU/DXM细胞表面NK细胞活化性受体(soluble NK group 2 member D,NKG2D)配体基因[可溶性MHCⅠ类分子相关A/B(MHC classⅠchain-related molecules A/B,MICA/B)及人UL16结合蛋白(UL16 binding protein,ULBP)1、2、3]的表达。结果:成功建立多药耐药细胞系SU/DXM。与SU细胞相比,SU/DXM细胞对NK细胞杀伤的敏感性明显下降[SU细胞为(11.38±3.51)%,SU/DXM细胞为(3.57±4.22)%,P<0.05],细胞表面NKG2D配体基因MICA、MICB、ULBP2 mRNA表达量降低(SU细胞分别为1.014±0.121、1.009±0.092、0.993±0.108,SU/DXM细胞分别为0.017±0.006、0.682±0.063、0.773±0.066,P<0.05或P<0.01)。结论:地塞米松能诱导B细胞淋巴瘤SU细胞发生多药耐药,多药耐药SU/DXM细胞能够抵抗NK细胞的杀伤,其机制可能与NKG2D配体基因表达量下降有关。     

Proteolytic release of soluble UL16-binding protein 2 from tumor cells

The MHC class I-related ligands of the immunoreceptor NKG2D are frequently expressed by tumor cells and stimulate tumor immunity mediated by CD8 T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. In humans, NKG2D ligands (NKG2DL) are encoded by the MHC-encoded MIC and non-MHC-encoded UL16-binding protein (ULBP) families of proteins. Recently, we and others showed that tumor cells release soluble MICA (sMICA), thereby counteracting NKG2D-mediated tumor immunosurveillance. Here, we now report that ULBP2 molecules are likewise released from tumor cells in a processed soluble form, and that soluble ULBP2 (sULBP2) can be detected in sera of some patients with hematopoietic malignancies. Tumor cell-derived sULBP2 as opposed to cell-bound ULBP2 does not down-regulate NKG2D on NK cells. Unexpectedly, the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored ULBP2 molecules are not released by phospholipases but by the action of metalloproteases. Proteolytic shedding of both NKG2D ligands MICA and ULBP2 by tumor cells was strongly enhanced after phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate treatment and paralleled by a markedly reduced susceptibility to NKG2D-mediated cytotoxicity. Shedding of MICA and ULBP2 can be blocked by the same inhibitors, suggesting the involvement of related metalloproteases. Thus, our data suggest that reducing NKG2DL surface densities is due to a common cleavage process executed by metalloproteases that promotes escape of tumors from NKG2D-mediated immunosurveillance.     

Direct and natural killer cell-mediated antitumor effects of low-dose bortezomib in hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) displays particular resistance to conventional cytostatic agents. Alternative treatment strategies focus on novel substances exhibiting antineoplastic and/or immunomodulatory activity enhancing for example natural killer (NK) cell antitumor reactivity. However, tumor-associated ligands engaging activating NK cell receptors are largely unknown. Exceptions are NKG2D ligands (NKG2DL) of the MHC class I-related chain and UL16-binding protein families, which potently stimulate NK cell responses. We studied the consequences of proteasome inhibition with regard to direct and NK cell-mediated effects against HCC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Primary human hepatocytes (PHH) from different donors, hepatoma cell lines, and NK cells were exposed to Bortezomib. Growth and viability of the different cells, and immunomodulatory effects including alterations of NKG2DL expression on hepatoma cells, specific induction of NK cell cytotoxicity and IFN-gamma production were investigated. RESULTS: Bortezomib treatment inhibited hepatoma cell growth with IC(50) values between 2.4 and 7.7 nmol/L. These low doses increased MICA/B mRNA levels, resulting in an increase of total and cell surface protein expression in hepatoma cells, thus stimulating cytotoxicity and IFN-gamma production of cocultured NK cells. Importantly, although NK cell IFN-gamma production was concentration-dependently reduced, low-dose Bortezomib neither induced NKG2DL expression or cell death in PHH nor altered NK cell cytotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose Bortezomib mediates a specific dual antitumor effect in HCC by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and priming hepatoma cells for NK cell antitumor reactivity. Our data suggest that patients with HCC may benefit from Bortezomib treatment combined with immunotherapeutic approaches such as adoptive NK cell transfer taking advantage of enhanced NKG2D-mediated antitumor immunity.