A contribution of mouse dendritic cell-derived IL-2 for NK cell activation.
Dendritic cells (DCs) play a predominant role in activation of natural killer (NK) cells that exert their functions against pathogen-infected and tumor cells. Here, we used a murine model to investigate the molecular mechanisms responsible for this process. Two soluble molecules produced by bacterially activated myeloid DCs are required for optimal priming of NK cells. Type I interferons (IFNs) promote the cytotoxic functions of NK cells. IL-2 is necessary both in vitro and in vivo for the efficient production of IFNgamma, which has an important antimetastatic and antibacterial function. These findings provide new information about the mechanisms that mediate DC-NK cell interactions and define a novel and fundamental role for IL-2 in innate immunity.
Granucci
Francesca
F
Department of Biotechnology and Bioscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy.
Zanoni
Ivan
I
Pavelka
Norman
N
Van Dommelen
Serani L H
SL
Andoniou
Christopher E
CE
Belardelli
Filippo
F
Degli Esposti
Mariapia A
MA
Ricciardi-Castagnoli
Paola
P
D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000502:physiology; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000502:physiology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
D020382:Interleukin-18; D007376:Interleukin-2; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma