MICA分子在NK细胞杀伤乳腺癌中的作用

目的 观察乳腺肿瘤细胞膜MHC Ⅰ链相关分子A(MHC class Ⅰ chain-related gene A,MICA)及血清中可溶性MICA表达,探讨MICA在NK细胞杀伤乳腺癌中的作用.方法 流式细胞术检测膜型MICA(mMICA)及NK细胞表面NKG2D表达,观察膜型MICA、可溶性MICA(sMIcA)对NKG2D表达的影响;免疫组织化学检测膜型MICA及可溶性MICA的表达及分布;抗体封闭法观察膜型MICA与NKG2D相互作用.结果 乳腺细胞膜型MICA在正常组织不表达,在良性肿瘤表达量为(38.5±7.5)%,恶性肿瘤表达量为(53.2±5.6)%.可溶性MICA含量在健康成年人为阴性,在乳腺良性肿瘤患者血清中含量(76.8±22.3)pg/mL,在恶性肿瘤患者中含量(205.36±71.27)pg/mL.经NKG2D或MICA抗体封闭后,NK细胞的杀瘤活性显著减弱.含可溶性MICA的血清可明显下调NKG2D的表达.结论 大部分乳腺肿瘤细胞膜都有MICA的表达,可作为乳腺肿瘤相关性抗原.膜型MICA与NKG2D的相互识别在介导NK细胞抗乳腺癌中起重要作用,而可溶性MICA通过下调NKG2D表达介导肿瘤免疫逃逸.     

MICA在NK细胞杀伤胰腺癌PANC-1细胞中的作用

探讨MHC I类链相关分子A(MHC class I chain-related A,MICA)在NK细胞杀伤胰腺癌PANC-1细胞中的作用。应用NK细胞分选试剂盒从外周血中分选高纯度NK细胞用于实验,体外培养PANC-1细胞和NK细胞,应用抗体封闭法,观察NKG2D与膜型MICA识别在NK细胞杀伤PANC-1细胞中的作用。将健康志愿者NK细胞在含有sMICA阳性胰腺癌患者血清的培基液中培养,观察NK细胞对PANC-1细胞的杀伤作用。经MICA或NKG2D抗体封闭后,NK细胞的杀瘤活性较封闭前显著减弱(P0.01)。胰腺癌患者血清sMICA水平显著高于健康志愿者和慢性胰腺炎患者(P0.01),胰腺癌患者血清中的sMICA可以显著降低NK细胞对PANC-1细胞的杀伤活性。NKG2D与膜型MICA识别在NK细胞杀伤人胰腺癌PANC-1细胞中起重要作用;sMICA是造成胰腺癌免疫逃逸的重要分子机制之一。     

传染性单核细胞增多症患儿NKG2D表达变化初探

目的 观察传染性单核细胞增多症(infectious mononucleosis,IM)患儿自然杀伤(NK)细胞和CD8+T细胞NKG2D表达,探讨导致Epstein-Barr病毒(EBV)感染免疫功能紊乱的可能机制.方法 传染性单核细胞增多症患儿29例,同龄健康对照组25例.流式细胞术检测外周血NK细胞、CD8+T细胞表面激活性受体NKG2D及抑制性受体NKG2A表达,CD14+单核细胞(MC)表面NKG2D配体MHC Ⅰ相关分子A(MICA)与人巨细胞病毒蛋白UL16的结合蛋白1(ULBP-1)表达;酶联免疫吸附试验(EHSA)检测血浆游离MICA (sMICA)、IL-7、IL-12、IL-15、IFN-γ及TGF-β等细胞因子浓度.结果 (1)IM组患儿NK细胞及CD8+T细胞表面NKG2D表达明显低于对照组(P＜0.05),其中3例拟诊EBV-相关噬血细胞综合征(EBV-HLH)患儿表达下调最为显著;(2)IM组患儿CD14+ MC MICA与ULBP-1表达与对照组相比差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05);(3)IM患儿细胞因子IL-15与TGF-β较对照组降低,IL-7、IL-12、IFN-γ及sMICA较对照组升高;(4)IM患儿NK细胞NKG2A表达明显高于对照组(P＜0.05),CD8+T细胞NKG2A表达与对照组相比无明显差异(P＞0.05).结论 EBV感染患儿NK细胞、CD8+T细胞NKG2D表达过度下调可能是导致免疫功能紊乱的原因之一,IL-15及IL-12等细胞因子调控失衡,sMICA血浓度增高等多种因素可能与其NKG2D表达下调有关.     

膜型/分泌型MICA对NK细胞受体NKG2D的相反调节效应及其对NK细胞受体谱的影响

目的　观察膜型和分泌型MICA对NK细胞受体表达的影响 ,以探讨NK细胞抗肿瘤活化机制及肿瘤细胞表达MICA分子的意义。方法　用MTT法测定人NK细胞系 (NK92 )的细胞毒活性 ;用RT PCR或FACS检测NK细胞受体 (NKG2D ,NKG2A B ,KIR2DL1,KIR2DS1)及NKG2D的识别配体MICA的表达。结果　肿瘤细胞表面的MICA分子可上调NKG2D的表达 ,下调抑制性受体NKG2A B和KIR2DL1的表达 ;而分泌型MICA (sMICA)分子对NKG2D及抑制性受体的表达均有抑制作用。结论　膜型MICA分子可上调NKG2D的表达 ,激发NK细胞对肿瘤细胞的细胞毒效应 ;分泌型MICA分子则通过降低NKG2D的表达下调机体的抗肿瘤免疫效应 ,肿瘤细胞分泌sMICA分子为肿瘤发生免疫逃逸的机制之一。     

树突状细胞上调MHC Ⅰ类相关抗原A表达对NK细胞活性的影响

目的:观察单核细胞、未成熟和成熟树突状细胞(DCs)表达MHC Ⅰ类相关抗原A(MICA)的情况,以及DCs表达MICA后对NK细胞活性的影响.方法:用流式细胞术分别检测单核细胞、未成熟DC(iDCs)以及LPS、TNF-α、CD40L、IL-15和IFN-α分别刺激的成熟DCs表面MICA的表达,并观察DCs表达MICA后对NK细胞表达CD69、细胞毒活性和分泌IFN-γ的影响.最后用流式细胞术检测重组NKG2D/Fc蛋白和抗IL-12单克隆抗体(mAb)对DCs激活NK细胞的影响.结果:单核细胞不表达MICA,iDCs低表达MICA.LPS、TNF-α和CD40L对DCs表达MICA无影响;但IFN-α和IL-15可促进DC上调MICA表达.DCs表达MICA后可促进NK细胞表达CD69、分泌IFN-γ、杀伤K562细胞.NKG2D/Fe蛋白可抑制NK细胞的杀伤活性和分泌IFN-γ;而抗IL-12mAb仅抑制IFN-γ分泌.结论:MICA在DCs表面的表达受局部微环境影响,且DCs表达MICA后可增强NK细胞的活性.     

IL-2促进PBMC来源的NK、NKT、CD8+T细胞高表达NKG2D

目的 观察大剂量IL-2活化的人外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）中，NKG2D在NK细胞、T细胞和NKT细胞表面的表达规律。方法 使用三重免疫荧光标记的流式细胞术检测NKG2D的表达情况。使用sMICA蛋白与人PBMC共同培养，之后使用流式细胞术分析NKG2D在NK细胞中的表达情况。使用半定量RT-PCR方法检测大剂量IL-2活化的人PBMC中NKG2D及其锚定蛋白DAP10 mRNA的表达变化。结果 使用大剂量IL-2活化人PBMC细胞后，NKG2D在NK细胞、CD^＋T细胞和NKT细胞表面的表达均增加，但是在CD4^＋T细胞表面始终不表达。同时IL-2可以拮抗sMICA对NKG2D的下调作用。半定量RT-PCR结果显示，使用大剂量IL-2活化人PBMC之后，NKG2D及其锚定蛋白DAP10的mRNA水平并不发生明显变化。结论 大剂量IL-2培养人PBMC之后，NKG2D在NK细胞、CD8^＋T细胞和NKT细胞表面的表达均增加，可能是PBMC活化并获得广谱抗肿瘤效应的机制之一．     

共培养体系中IL-15通过激活NK细胞ULBP1/NKG2D信号抑制食管癌细胞的迁移和侵袭北大核心CSCD

目的:探讨IL-15对食管癌细胞和自然杀伤(NK)细胞共培养体系中NK细胞活性以及对食管癌细胞迁移和侵袭的影响和机制。方法:qRT-PCR和Western blot检测人正常食管上皮细胞(HEEC)和食管癌细胞系TE-1中IL-15水平。TE-1与NK细胞共培养,共培养体系分为对照组(无处理)、IL-15组(0.2、0.4、0.8μg/ml的IL-15)、IL-15+anti-NKG2D组[UL16结合蛋白/自然杀伤组蛋白2D(ULBP1/NKG2D)的阻断剂anti-NKG2D联合IL-15(0.8μg/ml)]、anti-NKG2D组、IL-15+anti-ASIALO-GM1组[NK细胞抑制剂anti-ASIALO-GM1联合IL-15(0.8μg/ml)]及anti-ASIALO-GM1组。细胞划痕愈合实验和Transwell侵袭实验检测TE-1细胞的迁移和侵袭能力,CCK-8法检测NK细胞增殖率,Western blot检测各组NK细胞表面ULBP1/NKG2D表达,免疫共沉淀技术检测NKG2D与ULBP1的相互作用。结果:TE-1细胞中IL-15水平低于HEEC细胞(P<0.05)。0.2、0.4、0.8μg/ml IL-15处理共培养体系提高NK细胞增殖率,但降低TE-1细胞的迁移率和侵袭率(均P<0.05)。在TE-1与NK细胞的共培养体系中,IL-15组(0.8μg/ml)NK细胞膜蛋白ULBP1和NKG2D水平较对照组上调(均P<0.05);anti-NKG2D抑制了NKG2D表达,并抑制了NKG2D与ULBP1的相互作用,与IL-15(0.8μg/ml)组相比,IL-15+anti-NKG2D组NKG2D表达水平和NK细胞增殖率均降低(均P<0.05),但TE-1细胞的迁移率和侵袭率升高(均P<0.05),且NK细胞抑制剂anti-ASIALO-GM1与anti-NKG2D的作用效果一致。结论:IL-15通过激活细胞表面ULBP1/NKG2D信号促进NK细胞活性,从而抑制食管癌细胞的迁移和侵袭。     

结肠癌患者单核或树突状细胞MICA的表达及其与NK细胞活性的关联

目的:观察结肠癌患者单核或树突状细胞是否表达MHCⅠ类相关抗原A(MICA),并分析MICA+单核细胞的频率是否与患者体内NK细胞的活性相关联。方法:首先利用流式细胞仪检测MICA在外周血单核细胞和由单核细胞诱导而来树突状细胞(DCs)上的表达;并用IL-15和IFNα-刺激树突状细胞,观察MICA表达的变化;然后检测患者外周血NKG2D+、CD16+、CD69+NK细胞的频率及NK细胞的杀伤活性;最后分析MICA+单核细胞的频率是否与NK细胞表达NKG2D及其杀伤活性关联。结果:与健康个体相比,结肠癌患者MICA+单核细胞的频率无显著变化。未成熟DCs表达MICA,但受IL-15和IFNα-刺激后,结肠癌来源的DCs表面MICA的表达无显著上调。结肠癌患者外周血NKG2D+、CD69+NK细胞的频率显著降低,NK细胞的杀伤活性显著降低,而CD16+NK细胞的频率无明显变化。结肠癌患者MICA+单核细胞的频率与NK细胞表达NKG2D无明显关联,但与NK细胞杀伤靶细胞时CD107a的表达正相关。结论:结肠癌患者体内单核细胞表达MICA与NK细胞表达NKG2D无关,但高频率MICA阳性的单核细胞与NK细胞的抗肿瘤活性正相关。     

NKG2D配体的表达直接影响NK细胞对不同发育阶段DC的杀伤

目的:探讨NKG2D配体在不同发育阶段树突状细胞(DC)表面的表达及其对自然杀伤(NK)细胞杀伤活性的影响.方法:用细胞因子(rh IL-4、rhGM-CSF、TNF-α)体外诱导培养单核细胞来源的未成熟树突状细胞(iDC)和成熟树突状细胞(mDC)并鉴定形态和表型,免疫磁珠法分离纯化NK细胞.流式细胞术(FCM)检测iDC和mDC表面NKG2D配体MICA/B、ULBP1-3的表达.用LDH释放法检测NK细胞对iDC和mDC的杀伤活性以及抗NKG2D单克隆抗体(mAb)阻断NK细胞后的杀伤活性.结果:培养的iDC和mDC具有典型的细胞形态和免疫表型特征.iDC表面表达MICA、MICB、ULBP1、ULBP3,表达率分别为(32.39±8.30)%、(17.75±3.40)%、(26.71±6.48)%、(38.37±6.89)%;mDC表面表达MICA 、ULBP3,表达率分别为(7.82±2.67)%、(8.36±2.42)%,比iDC表面相应配体表达率低(P<0.01).各效靶比NK细胞对iDC的杀伤活性均比对mDC的杀伤活性高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01).抗NKG2D mAb阻断NK细胞后对iDC杀伤活性比阻断前减弱(P<0.05);对mDC的杀伤活性与阻断前相比无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论:NKG2D配体在iDC表面表达高,介导了NK细胞对iDC的杀伤,而对mDC的杀伤无影响,是NK细胞对iDC选择性高杀伤的分子机制之一.     

重组可溶性MHC Ⅰ类相关蛋白A对NK细胞生物学活性的影响

目的:研究体外重组可溶性MHC Ⅰ类相关蛋白A(sMICA)对NK细胞杀伤靶细胞活性、分泌IFN-γ、增殖和凋亡的影响.方法:将重组sMICA蛋白与人外周血NK细胞相互作用过夜后,流式细胞仪检测NK细胞杀伤K562靶细胞的能力;ELISA检测培养上清IFN-γ浓度;MTS/PMS法检测sMICA对NK细胞增殖的影响;给NK细胞标记Annexin V和碘化丙啶检测凋亡情况.结果:可溶性MICA抑制NK细胞杀伤K562细胞的活性,下调IFN-γ的分泌,却对NK细胞的增殖和凋亡没有影响.结论:肿瘤细胞表面脱落的sMICA抗原可通过抑制NK细胞活性而逃逸机体的免疫监视功能.     

IL-2-activated haploidentical NK cells restore NKG2D-mediated NK-cell cytotoxicity in neuroblastoma patients by scavenging of plasma MICA

NK group 2D (NKG2D)-expressing NK cells exhibit cytolytic activity against various tumors after recognition of the cellular ligand MHC class I chain-related gene A (MICA). However, release of soluble MICA (sMICA) compromises NKG2D-dependent NK-cell cytotoxicity leading to tumor escape from immunosurveillance. Although some molecular details of the NKG2D-MICA interaction have been elucidated, its impact for donor NK (dNK) cell-based therapy of solid tumors has not been studied. Within an ongoing phase I/II trial, we used allogeneic IL-2 activated dNK cells after haploidentical stem cell transplantation for immunotherapy of patients with high-risk stage IV neuroblastoma. NKG2D levels on activated dNK cells increased strongly when compared with freshly isolated dNK cells and correlated with enhanced NK-cell cytotoxicity. Most importantly, elevated sMICA levels in patients plasma correlated significantly with impaired dNK-cell-mediated cytotoxicity. This effect could be reversed by high-dose infusion of activated dNK cells, which display high levels of surface NKG2D. Our data suggest that the provided excess of NKG2D leads to clearance of sMICA and preserves cytotoxicity of dNK cells via non-occupied NKG2D. In conclusion, our results identify this tumor immune escape mechanism as a target to improve immunotherapy of neuroblastoma and presumably other tumors.     

Loss of NKG2D in murine NK cells leads to increased perforin production upon long-term stimulation with IL-2

NK cells are innate lymphocytes responsible for lysis of pathogen-infected and transformed cells. One of the major activating receptors required for target cell recognition is the NK group 2D (NKG2D) receptor. Numerous reports show the necessity of NKG2D for effective tumor immune surveillance. Further studies identified NKG2D as a key element allowing tumor immune escape. We here use a mouse model with restricted deletion of NKG2D in mature NKp46⁺ cells (NKG2D^ΔNK). NKG2D^ΔNK NK cells develop normally, have an unaltered IFN-γ production but kill tumor cell lines expressing NKG2D ligands (NKG2DLs) less efficiently. However, upon long-term stimulation with IL-2, NKG2D-deficient NK cells show increased levels of the lytic molecule perforin. Thus, our findings demonstrate a dual function of NKG2D for NK cell cytotoxicity; while NKG2D is a crucial trigger for cytotoxicity of tumor cells expressing activating ligands it is also capable to limit perforin production in IL-2 activated NK cells.     

Soluble MICA as an independent prognostic factor for the overall survival and progression-free survival of multiple myeloma patients

Major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A (MICA) molecules are frequently expressed in lymphoproliferative malignancies including multiple myeloma (MM). MICA activates NK cells and co-stimulates T cells by interaction with its immunoreceptor NKG2D. In contrast, soluble MICA (sMICA) molecules impair the functions of NKG2D(+) T and NK cells, which may facilitate tumor cell escape from immunosurveillance. Here, we analyzed the clinical relevance of sMICA in 97 MM patients. sMICA (mean+/-SEM pg/ml) was significantly increased (p<0.0001) in patients (429+/-20) compared to controls (230+/-20; N=43). Serial determination showed a strong correlation between increments of sMICA and paraprotein levels (r=0.543, p<0.0001, N=49). sMICA levels >305 pg/ml are associated with a poor overall (p=0.004) and progression-free survival (p=0.002). Multivariate analysis revealed sMICA as an independent predictive factor for overall (p=0.007) and progression-free survival (p=0.002). Thus, our results suggest sMICA as a potent prognostic marker in MM, which may be useful to identify risk patients.     

Potentiation of NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity in human lung adenocarcinoma: role of NKG2D-dependent pathway

Natural cytotoxicity receptors and NKG2D correspond to major activating receptors involved in triggering of tumor cell lysis by human NK cells. In this report, we investigated the expression of NKG2D ligands (NKG2DLs), MHC class I-related chain (MIC) A, MICB and UL16-binding proteins 1, 2 and 3, on a panel of human non-small-cell lung carcinoma cell lines, and we analyzed their role in tumor cell susceptibility to NK cell lysis. Although adenocarcinoma (ADC) cells expressed heterogeneous levels of NKG2DLs, they were often resistant to NK cell-mediated killing. Resistance of a selected cell line, ADC-Coco, to allogeneic polyclonal NK cells and autologous NK cell clones correlated with shedding of NKG2DLs resulting from a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) production. Treatment of ADC-Coco cells with a MMP inhibitor (MMPI) combined with IL-15 stimulation of autologous NK cell clones lead to a potentiation of NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. This lysis is mainly NKG2D mediated, since it is abrogated by anti-NKG2D-neutralizing mAb. These results suggest that MMPIs, in combination with IL-15, may be useful for overcoming tumor cell escape from the innate immune response.     

IDO metabolite produced by EBV-transformed B cells inhibits surface expression of NKG2D in NK cells via the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway

Natural Killer cells are known to play a major role in the innate immune response against viral infections and tumor cells. Several viruses, such as CMV, EBV and HIV-1, have acquired strategies to escape elimination by NK cells. In this study, we observed that EBV infection increased expression of IDO on B cells. To evaluate the function of IDO associated with EBV infection, we investigated whether EBV-induced IDO could modulate expression of NK cell-activation receptor, NKG2D. When NK cells were co-incubated with EBV transformed B cells, surface expression of NKG2D was significantly reduced in NK cells. Incubation with L-kynurenine, an IDO metabolite, down-modulated NKG2D expression in NK cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Incubation with the JNK inhibitor SP600125 also inhibited NKG2D expression in NK cells. In addition, we observed that the effect of L-kynurenine was blocked by JNK agonist, anisomycin, suggesting the involvement of the JNK pathway in the signal transduction of L-kynurenine-reduced NKG2D expression. Furthermore, IL-18 significantly reduced L-kynurenine-induced down-regulation of NKG2D expression in NK cells. Taken together, these data indicate that down-regulation of NKG2D by EBV-induced IDO metabolite provides a potential mechanism by which EBV escapes NKG2D-mediated attack by immune cells.     

Critical role of the NKG2D receptor for NK cell‐mediated control and immune escape of B‐cell lymphoma

Little is known on the control of lymphomas by NK cells. Here, we study the role of the NK group 2D (NKG2D) receptor for the immunosurveillance of lymphoma. By using transplantable tumors as well as a λ‐myc‐transgenic model of endogenously arising lymphoma and NKG2D‐deficient mice, we show that NK cells eliminate tumor cells in vivo after receiving two signals. One step involved the activation of NK cells giving rise to IFN‐γ expression, which was effected by MHCI^low tumor cells or DCs. However, this was necessary but not sufficient to mediate cytotoxicity. Triggering cytotoxicity additionally required a second step, which could be mediated by engagement of the NKG2D receptor. Thus, NKG2D‐deficient NK cells could become activated in vivo, but they were not able to reject transplanted lymphomas or to degranulate in animals bearing autochthonous lymphomas. Tumor growth in NKG2D‐deficient λ‐myc‐transgenic mice was significantly accelerated compared to NKG2D‐competent animals. Whereas the latter developed tumors that lost expression of NKG2D ligands (NKG2D‐L) in late disease stages, this did not occur in NKG2D‐deficient mice. This indicates that NK cells and the NKG2D receptor play a role for control of lymphomas and that selection for NKG2D‐L loss mutants provides a mechanism of tumor escape.     

卵巢肿瘤患者外周血NK细胞受体NKG2A、NKG2D及NK活性检测的临床意义

通过研究卵巢癌及良性卵巢肿瘤患者外周血NK细胞表面受体的表达情况及NK活性的变化,分析探讨宿主NK细胞受体与肿瘤免疫逃逸的关系及其临床价值。分离受检者外周血单个核细胞,应用MTT法检测NK细胞的细胞毒活性,流式细胞术检测NK细胞受体NKG2D和NKG2A的表达,并结合临床病理因素作比较分析。结果显示,与良性卵巢肿瘤组和正常组相比,卵巢癌患者外周血NK细胞的细胞毒活性降低,NK细胞表面NKG2D的表达水平降低,而NKG2A的表达水平明显升高,其变化与卵巢癌的病情进展有关。此结果表明,卵巢癌患者机体NK细胞杀伤活性下降,NKG2D与NKG2A二者之间的平衡表达可能对NK细胞的功能状态起着重要的调节作用。