title: CD16- CD56+ natural killer cells after bone marrow transplantation.
abstract: Natural killer (NK) cells are phenotypically defined as lymphocytes expressing the antigens CD56 and mostly CD16 (Fc gamma RIII), but lacking CD3. A small CD3- CD16- CD56+ NK cell subset has been described in normal individuals representing less than 2% of peripheral blood lymphocytes. We analyzed here 70 patients for their reconstitution of the immune system during follow-up after autologous or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. In 35% of these patients, two different NK cell subsets, namely CD56+dim and CD56+bright cells, were observed. The mean duration of these two subsets after transplant was 4 months. Sixty-five percent of the patients exhibited an increased number of NK cells, but only the typical CD16+ CD56+dim population. The CD56+bright subpopulation represented a particular CD3- CD16- NK subset, with posttransplant frequencies up to 70% of all NK cells and 40% of peripheral blood lymphocytes, respectively. In contrast to normal CD56+dim NK cells, CD56+bright cells coexpressed the activation antigens p75 beta-chain of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R), CD2R, and CD26, but were negative for CD16. NK and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity activity of CD56+bright cells was low compared with CD56+dim NK cells. But using IL-2 and interferon gamma, their cytotoxicity could be enhanced even more than in CD56+dim lymphocytes. These different subsets may reflect distinct activation or differentiation steps of NK cells during reconstitution of the immune system. Their differential response to IL-2 may be of functional importance for posttransplant cytokine therapy.
authors.affiliation: Abt. für Klinische Immunologie und Transfusionsmedizin, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stoll
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stratmann
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Link
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis*; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000032:analysis*; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma