Involvement of CXCR4 and IL-2 in the homing and retention of human NK and NK T cells to the bone marrow and spleen of NOD/SCID mice.
Human natural killer (NK) and NK T cells play an important role in allogeneic bone marrow (BM) transplantation and graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect. The mechanisms by which these cells home to the BM and spleen are not well understood. Here we show that treatment of these cells with pertussis toxin and neutralizing antibodies to the chemokine receptor CXCR4 inhibited homing of the cells to the BM, but not the spleen, of NOD/SCID mice. The retention of NK and NK T cells within the spleen and BM was dependent on Galphai signaling and CXCR4 function. The chemokine receptors CXCR4 and CXCR3 are expressed predominantly on the cell surface of NK T cells. Following activation with interleukin-2 (IL-2), the levels of CXCR4 on NK and NK T cells decreased significantly. Treatment of cells with IL-2 inhibited their migration in response to CXCL12 and their homing and retention in the BM and spleen of NOD/SCID mice. In contrast to CXCR4, the expression levels of the chemokine receptor CXCR3 and the migration of cells in response to CXCL9 and CXCL10 increased after IL-2 treatment. Thus, down-regulation of CXCR4 and up-regulation of CXCR3 may direct the trafficking of cells to the site of inflammation, rather than to hematopoietic organs, and therefore may limit their alloreactive potential.
Hadassah University Hospital, Gene Therapy Institute, PO Box 12000, Jerusalem, Israel.
Katia
K
Beider
Arnon
A
Nagler
Ori
O
Wald
Suzanna
S
Franitza
Michal
M
Dagan-Berger
Hanna
H
Wald
Hilla
H
Giladi
Stefan
S
Brocke
Jacob
J
Hanna
Ofer
O
Mandelboim
Merav
M
Darash-Yahana
Eithan
E
Galun
Amnon
A
Peled
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000276:immunology; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D016513:Mice, SCID; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000276:immunology*; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000276:immunology; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000906:Antibodies; C515187:CXCR3 protein, human; C515188:Cxcr3 protein, mouse; D007376:Interleukin-2; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine