title: Systematic characterization of human CD8+ T cells with natural killer cell markers in comparison with natural killer cells and normal CD8+ T cells.
abstract: We investigated the function of CD56+ CD8+ T cells (CD56+ T cells) and CD56- CD57+ CD8+ T cells (CD57+ T cells; natural killer (NK)-type T cells) and compared them with those of normal CD56- CD57- CD8+ T cells (CD8+ T cells) and CD56+ NK cells from healthy volunteers. After the stimulation with immobilized anti-CD3 antibodies, both NK-type T cells produced much larger amounts of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) than CD8+ T cells. Both NK-type T cells also acquired a more potent cytotoxicity against NK-sensitive K562 cells than CD8+ T cells while only CD56+ T cells showed a potent cytotoxicity against NK-resistant Raji cells. After the stimulation with a combination of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12 and IL-15, the IFN-gamma amounts produced were NK cells > or = CD56+ T cells > or = CD57+ T cells > CD8+ T cells. The cytotoxicities against K562 cells were NK cells > CD56+ T cells > or = CD57+ T cells > CD8+ T cells while cytotoxicities against Raji cells were CD56+ T cells > CD57+ T cells > or = CD8+ T cells > or = NK cells. However, the CD3-stimulated proliferation of both NK-type T cells was smaller than that of CD8+ T cells partly because NK-type T cells were susceptible to apoptosis. In addition to NK cells, NK-type T cells but not CD8+ T cells stimulated with cytokines, expressed cytoplasmic perforin and granzyme B. Furthermore, CD3-stimulated IFN-gamma production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) correlated with the proportions of CD57+ T cells in PBMC from donors. Our findings suggest that NK-type T cells play an important role in the T helper 1 responses and the immunological changes associated with ageing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohkawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dobashi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koike
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Habu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ami
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hiraide
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sekine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D018959:CD57 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D053804:Granzymes; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020014:K562 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D054353:Perforin; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D017252:CD3 Complex; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D018959:CD57 Antigens; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D054353:Perforin; D007371:Interferon-gamma; C509213:GZMB protein, human; D053804:Granzymes; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases