title: CD56bright natural killer cells are present in human lymph nodes and are activated by T cell-derived IL-2: a potential new link between adaptive and innate immunity.
abstract: Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that provide cytokines critical for early host defense against pathogens. One subset of human NK cells (CD56(bright)) constitutively expresses the high-affinity interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor and produces immunoregulatory cytokines. Here, we demonstrate that CD56(bright) NK cells are present in human lymph nodes and that endogenous T cell-derived IL-2, acting through the NK high-affinity IL-2 receptor, costimulates CD56(bright) NK cells to secrete IFN-gamma. Thus, adaptive immunoregulators influence innate cytokine production, which in turn may influence the developing antigen-specific immune response. These data show a dynamic interaction between innate and adaptive human lymphocytes and emphasize the importance of studying interactions between immune components to understand the immune response as a whole.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Todd A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Fehniger
authors.forename: Megan A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Gerard J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Nuovo
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cella
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Facchetti
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colonna
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Caligiuri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000276:immunology; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D018448:Models, Immunological; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D007371:Interferon-gamma