title: The effect of IgG levels on the number of natural killer cells and their Fc receptors in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is an established treatment for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). Although Fc receptors on natural killer cells have been suggested as a target for IVIg, the pharmacological effects are not yet clarified. We hypothesize that IVIg therapy, dependent on the plasma IgG level, suppresses the cytotoxic capacity by a reduction in numbers of NK cells and their Fc receptor CD16.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten consecutive patients with CIDP in maintenance therapy with IVIg were studied before and immediately after the infusion of 0.7-2.0 g/kg IVIg. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples from these patients were analyzed immediately after isolation using flow cytometry and cytotoxicity assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that following IVIg treatment, the cytotoxic activity of NK cells in CIDP patients was suppressed, partly caused by a dose-dependent decline in the number of circulating NK cells. In addition, a dose-dependent blockage of CD16 occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study implies that IVIg infusion induces a substantial decline in the number of peripheral NK cells and a suppression of NK-cell-mediated cytotoxicity. We propose that these impairments of the NK cells contribute to the therapeutic effect of IVIg in CIDP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. anja@mr.au.dk
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Bohn
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nederby
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harbo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skovbo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vorup-Jensen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krog
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jakobsen
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hokland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020277:Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C428200:FCGR3B protein, human; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D017452:Receptors, IgG