Enrichment of interleukin-2-responsive natural killer progenitors in human bone marrow.
Natural killer (NK) cells can be cultured in interleukin-2 (IL-2)-containing medium from selected human bone marrow (BM) cells obtained after the elimination of mature T and NK cells. To isolate and characterize IL-2-responsive NK progenitors in the selected BM cells, we investigated the expression of IL-2 receptors (IL-2R) on these cells. Neither CD25 (IL-2R alpha) nor IL-2R beta antigen was observed on the selected BM cells before culture. However, CD25+ cells without detectable levels of IL-2R beta antigen appeared 24 hours after culture in IL-2-containing medium. Cells were sorted from each fraction of the selected BM cells 24 hours after culture after staining with anti-CD33, anti-CD34, and anti-CD25 monoclonal antibodies. The generation of NK cells (CD3- CD56+ cells) and NK activity were observed only from the CD33-/CD34-/CD25+ cell fraction after culture in IL-2-containing medium. The frequency of IL-2-responsive NK progenitors relative to the fraction was 1/231 (95% confidence range, 1/156 to 1/289), which corresponded to the frequency relative to the total number of selected BM cells when the frequency relative to the CD33-/CD34-/CD25+ cell-fraction was converted according to the percentage of these cells in the total number of selected BM cells. These results indicated that IL-2-responsive NK progenitors were enriched in the CD33-/CD34-/CD25+ cell fraction.
Shibuya
A
A
Division of Hematology, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Kojima
H
H
Shibuya
K
K
Nagayoshi
K
K
Nagasawa
T
T
Nakauchi
H
H
D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation
D007376:Interleukin-2