title: Effects of prolactin and cortisol on natural killer (NK) cell surface expression and function of human natural cytotoxicity receptors (NKp46, NKp44 and NKp30).
abstract: The surface density of the triggering receptors (e.g. NKp46 and NKp30) responsible for natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity determines the ability of NK cells to kill susceptible target cells. In this study, we show that prolactin up-regulates and cortisol down-regulates the surface expression of NKp46 and NKp30. The prolactin-mediated activation and the cortisol-mediated inhibition of natural cytotoxicity receptor (NCR) surface expression reflects gene regulation at the transcriptional level. NKp46 and NKp30 are the major receptors involved in the NK-mediated killing of K562, a human chronic myelogenous leukaemia cell line. Accordingly, the prolactin dramatically increased the NK-mediated killing of the K562 cell line, whereas cortisol abolished this activity. Our data suggest a mechanism by which prolactin activates the lytic function of NK cells, and cortisol inhibits the NK-mediated attack.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Unit, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Lambaréné, Gabon. elie.mavoungou@uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mavoungou
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Bouyou-Akotet
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Kremsner
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1; D055629:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 2; D055628:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 3; D011388:Prolactin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C112260:NCR1 protein, human; C112837:NCR2 protein, human; C431710:NCR3 protein, human; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1; D055629:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 2; D055628:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 3; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D011388:Prolactin; D006854:Hydrocortisone