Circulating HLA-DR(+) natural killer cells have potent lytic ability and weak antigen-presenting cell function.
Whether a freshly isolated immune cell can be equipped with both natural killing and antigen-presenting cell (APC) function has recently become controversial in mice. We sought to probe the existence of a candidate human cell with these properties by searching for cells in healthy subjects that co-express APC surface molecules and NK cell receptors. We have found that CD3(-)CD14(-)CD19(-) mononuclear cells of human blood, spleen, liver, and lymph nodes contain two distinct populations of cells that co-express HLA-DR (DR) and CD56. Circulating CD56(+) cells expressing high levels of DR were phenotypically and functionally similar to conventional CD56(-)dendritic cells (DC). Furthermore, we demonstrate here that a separate cohort of CD56(+) cells that express low levels of DR are NK cells that possess dual function as potent killers endowed with weak APC function.
Burt
Bryan M
BM
Hepatobiliary Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
Plitas
George
G
Nguyen
Hoang M
HM
Stableford
Jennifer A
JA
Bamboat
Zubin M
ZM
Dematteo
Ronald P
RP
D017951:Antigen Presentation; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002469:Cell Separation; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology
D019002:CD56 Antigen; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens