title: Zinc improves the development of human CD34+ cell progenitors towards Natural Killer cells and induces the expression of GATA-3 transcription factor.
abstract: The Natural Killer cell maturation from CD34(+) hematopoietic cell precursors is a complex process that requires the synergistic effect of different cytokines and growth factors. Although there have been a number of important advances in our understanding of the Natural Killer differentiation, the developmental step leading to mature Natural Killer cells is still poorly defined. We evaluated the effect of two zinc concentrations (10 and 20microM) on the kinetic of development of CD34(+) cell progenitors towards Natural Killer cells. CD34(+) cells were purified from peripheral blood and cultured in medium supplemented with interleukin-15, interleukin-7, Flt 3 ligand, and stem cell factor. CD34(+) cells underwent proliferation and progressively lost CD34 antigen and acquired a CD56(+) phenotype. These CD56(+) cells exerted cytotoxic activity and expressed the CD94 inhibitory receptor. The supplementation with zinc greatly increased both the number of cells in culture and the absolute number of CD56(+) cells. Zinc induced higher levels of cytotoxic activity and a higher number of perforin-producing and of CD94-bearing CD56(+) cells in comparison with zinc unsupplemented cultures in early stages of Natural Killer cell development. The zinc-induced changes in CD34-derived CD56(+) cells were associated with an increased expression of GATA-3, a zinc-finger transcription factor providing for maturation and activity of T and Natural Killer cells. The increase was related to a higher CD56(+) cell number (10microM zinc), or to an increased GATA-3 mRNA transcription in CD56(+) cells (20microM zinc). Our data demonstrate that zinc influences the proliferation and differentiation of CD34(+) progenitors.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Center, INRCA Gerontol Res. Dept., Via Birarelli 8, I-60121 Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muzzioli
authors.forename: Rosalia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stecconi
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Donnini
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Re
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Provinciali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism*; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D / Q000378:metabolism; D054353:Perforin; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D019409:Interleukin-15; D015851:Interleukin-7; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; C084881:flt3 ligand protein; D054353:Perforin; D015032:Zinc