CD16 cross-linking induces increased expression of CD56 and production of IL-12 in peripheral NK cells.
Human NK cells are classified into two populations according to the intensity of CD56 surface expression, as well as possession of CD16, FcRIII. CD56(dim)CD16(bright) make up 90% circulating NK cells, whereas CD56(bright)CD16(-/dim) comprises the remaining 10%. Here we report that peripheral NK cells upon CD16 cross-linking up-regulates the expression of activating markers and receptors such as CD25, CD69, NKp44, NKp30, CD40L and the intensity of CD56 expression. Additionally, co-culturing immature DCs with CD16 activated NK cells was found to significantly increase the expression of maturation markers on DCs. These results suggest that CD16 cross-linking on resting peripheral blood NK cells triggers the activation of these cells and induces the appearance of CD56(bright) NK cells. The latter were found capable of producing pro-inflammatory cytokines, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha and notably IL-12.
Márquez
Maria-Elena
ME
Laboratorio de Patología Celular y Molecular, Centro de Medicina Experimental, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas, Venezuela. marmarqu@ivic.ve
Millet
Carmen
C
Stekman
Hilda
H
Conesa
Angela
A
Deglesne
Pierre-Antoine
PA
Toro
Felix
F
Sanctis
Juan De
JD
Blanca
Isaac
I
D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D055629:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D055628:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011940:Receptor Aggregation; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D019002:CD56 Antigen; C112837:NCR2 protein, human; C431710:NCR3 protein, human; D055629:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 2; D055628:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 3; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D018664:Interleukin-12