Persistence of CD16+/CD56-/2B4+ natural killer cells: a highly dysfunctional NK subset expanded in ocular myasthenia gravis.
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.
Nguyen
Stéphanie
S
INSERM U543, Laboratoire d'Immunologie Cellulaire et Tissulaire, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
Morel
Véronique
V
Le Garff-Tavernier
Magali
M
Bolgert
Francis
F
Leblond
Véronique
V
Debré
Patrice
P
Vieillard
Vincent
V
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
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