title: GM-CSF enhances IL-2-activated natural killer cell lysis of clonogenic AML cells by upregulating target cell expression of ICAM-1.
abstract: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells express the surface adhesion proteins intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1, CD54) and lymphocyte function associated molecule-3 (LFA-3, CD58). Exposure to the myeloid growth-promoting cytokine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) upregulates expression of ICAM-1 and LFA-3 on AML cells but does not increase their sensitivity to lysis by interleukin-2-activated natural killer cells (LAK) in 51Cr assays. However when AML cells are exposed to GM-CSF prior to incubation with LAK, their subsequent clonogenic activity is significantly reduced. If a blocking antibody to ICAM-1 is added during the incubation period of AML with LAK, the inhibitory effect is completely ablated. A less pronounced effect is observed with an antibody to LFA-3. ICAM-1 is expressed on a greater proportion of CD34+ than CD34- AML cells and exposure to GM-CSF induces a significantly greater upregulation of ICAM-1 on leukemic CD34+ cells than their CD34- counterparts. These data suggest that the inhibitory effect of IL-2-activated natural killer cells on clonogenic AML cells is mediated principally via the lymphocyte function associated molecule-1 (LFA-1)/ICAM-1 interaction. Interleukin-2 upregulates LFA-1 expression on natural killer cells. Simultaneous administration of effector cell activators such as IL-2 and target cell modulators such as GM-CSF may have a therapeutic benefit in patients with minimal residual myeloid leukemia.
authors.affiliation: Haematology Department, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Bendall
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kortlepel
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gottlieb
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D002999:Clone Cells; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000276:immunology*; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D007376:Interleukin-2; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor