title: Persistence of CD16+/CD56-/2B4+ natural killer cells: a highly dysfunctional NK subset expanded in ocular myasthenia gravis.
abstract: We report a case of myasthenia gravis associated with marked expansion of an unusual CD16(+)CD56(-)2B4(+) NK subset. These atypical cells were characterized by poor cytotoxicity against CD48(+) target cells and high proliferation due to 2B4/CD48 interaction. IL18, IFN-gamma and TGF-beta levels were profoundly different in this patient than in healthy donors. Immunosuppressive treatment induced disease remission and decreased the CD16(+)CD56(-)2B4(+)NK cells count. Our data suggest that expansion of this NK subset in myasthenia gravis patients may account for the deleterious NK cell functioning that occurs in this autoimmune disease.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U543, Laboratoire d'Immunologie Cellulaire et Tissulaire, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Morel
authors.forename: Magali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Le Garff-Tavernier
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bolgert
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leblond
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Debré
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vieillard
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010641:Phenotype; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000378:metabolism*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071176:Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015703:Antigens, CD; C084093:CD244 protein, human; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D020382:Interleukin-18; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D000071176:Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide; D001379:Azathioprine