title: The role of activation-induced cell death in the higher onset of spontaneous apoptosis of NK cell subsets in patients with metastatic epithelial cancer.
abstract: To address the question whether the higher onset of apoptosis of circulating NK cell subsets might be activation induced in cancer patients, surface expression of NKG2D and serum (s) levels of MHC class I chain-related (MIC) proteins in relation to apoptosis marker and CD95 expression on NK cells were evaluated. Patients showed a significantly higher onset of spontaneous apoptosis of CD56dim NK cells. No difference in the CD95 expression could be detected between patients and normal controls (NCs). Patients' CD56bright NK cells demonstrated a higher expression of NKG2D compared to CD56dim NK cells. The sMICB levels showed a higher level in patients versus NCs. No correlation between sMIC protein levels with both NKG2D expression and onset of spontaneous apoptosis of NK cell subsets was found. Our data suggest that the higher onset of apoptosis of circulating NK cell subsets of patients is not triggered by activation-induced cell death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Austria. stefanie.stanzer@medunigraz.at
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stanzer
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Janesch
authors.forename: Margit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Resel
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Augustin
authors.forename: Hellmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Samonigg
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bauernhofer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K / Q000276:immunology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; C527085:KLRK1 protein, human; C099187:MHC class I-related chain A; C098080:MICB antigen; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K; D019014:fas Receptor