Activated gammadelta T cells express the natural cytotoxicity receptor natural killer p 44 and show cytotoxic activity against myeloma cells.
gammadelta T cells account for up to 10% of T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of healthy donors. They can be activated by cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12 and IL-15, express natural killer (NK) cell markers such as NKG2D and show cytotoxic activity against several tumour cells, including multiple myeloma. Here, we present activated polyclonal gammadelta T cells from healthy donors with an NK T cell-like phenotype expressing the natural cytotoxicity receptor NKp44. Natural cytotoxicity receptors NKp30, NKp44 and NKp46 have been regarded as specific NK receptors; only two gammadelta T cell clones described so far expressed NKp 44. Isolated polyclonal gammadelta T cells cultured for 7 days according to the cytokine-induced killer cell (CIK) protocol with additional IL-15 revealed a surface expression of NKp44 of 8+/-7% (n=22). This could be confirmed by detection of NKp 44 mRNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). gammadelta T cells exhibited a marked cytotoxic activity against myeloma cells, which could be reduced by inhibition of NKp44. To our knowledge, this is the first description of the expression of NKp44 on polyclonal gammadelta T cells.
von Lilienfeld-Toal
M
M
Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Sigmund Freud Str. 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany. m.lilienfeld.toal@uni-bonn.de
Nattermann
J
J
Feldmann
G
G
Sievers
E
E
Frank
S
S
Strehl
J
J
Schmidt-Wolf
I G H
IG
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D055629:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 2; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D019409:Interleukin-15; D007376:Interleukin-2; C112837:NCR2 protein, human; D055629:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic