Human NK cells positively regulate gammadelta T cells in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
The decrease in NK cell activity and the loss of gammadelta T cells in active pulmonary tuberculosis patients have been reported. In this study, we observed that the proliferating response of gammadelta T cells to the heat-treated Ags of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from different individuals was noted to be dependent on the content or function of NK cells in PBMC in a population study. We also found that NK cells were directly rapidly activated by the heat-treated Ags from M. tuberculosis (H37Ra) in vitro; in turn, the activated NK cells improved gammadelta T cell proliferation both by CD54-mediated cell-cell contact through the forming immune synapse and by soluble factors TNF-alpha, GM-CSF, and IL-12, but not IFN-gamma. Our results demonstrated that an interaction between NK cells and gammadelta T cells existed in antituberculosis immunity. Up-regulating the function of NK cells might be beneficial to the prevention and control of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Zhang
Ruijun
R
Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Zheng
Xiaodong
X
Li
Baiqing
B
Wei
Haiming
H
Tian
Zhigang
Z
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D007372:Interferons