title: Rapid Il-2-induced adherence of human natural killer cells. Expression of mRNA for cytokines and IL-2 receptors in adherent NK cells.
abstract: Natural killer (NK) cells selected by IL-2-induced rapid adherence to plastic and called A-NK cells represent a phenotypically and functionally distinct subset of mature peripheral blood NK cells. To further characterize this subset of NK cells functionally, their potential to express mRNA for the IL-2R and various cytokines after IL-2 activation was examined. Highly purified normal human peripheral blood resting NK (R-NK) cells were obtained by negative immunoselection using OKT3 mAb and magnetic beads coated with goat anti-mouse Ig. By two-color flow cytometry, > 90% of these R-NK cells were either CD3-CD56+CD16+ or - or CD3-CD56-CD16+. R-NK cells were activated in the presence of 6000 IU/ml (22 nM) of IL-2 for different periods of time. After 1, 3, 5, or 24 h, plastic-adherent (A) and nonadherent (NA) NK cells were separated and compared for the expression of the IL-2R or cytokine mRNA by in situ hybridization, using 35[S]-cDNA probes. Only low proportions of R-NK cells expressed genes for IL-2Rp55 (16%) or cytokines IL-2 (20%), IFN-gamma (18%), TNF-alpha (16%), and TGF-beta (7%). Thus, the genes for the IL-2Rp55 and these cytokines were not constitutively expressed by most human R-NK cells, and there was no indication that the NK cells used in these experiments were activated in vivo or during the purification procedure. However, larger proportions of R-NK cells showed expression of mRNA for IL-1-beta (35%) and IL-6 (40%), which indicates that genes for these cytokines may be constitutively expressed in a substantial proportion of normal human circulating NK cells. When R-NK cells were incubated in the presence of 22 nM of IL-2 for 1 to 24 h and separated into A-NK cells and NA-NK cells, a large proportion of A-NK cells became positive for IL-2R and cytokine gene expression. In contrast, the proportion of mRNA-positive NA-NK cells was similar or lower than that observed for R-NK cells, with the exception of an increase in TGF-beta.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, PA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vitolo
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Vujanovic
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rabinowich
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schlesinger
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Herberman
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Whiteside
mesh_terms: D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma