title: Identification of human NK17/NK1 cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Natural killer (NK) cells have both cytolytic and immunoregulatory functions. We recently described that these cells release the inflammatory cytokines IL-17 and IFN-γ. However, the precise identity of the NK cell subset(s) that secrete these cytokines is not known.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To isolate the cells secreting IL-17 and IFN-γ, we took advantage of the findings that Th17/Th1 cells express chemokine receptors. Therefore, CD56(+)NK cells were stained with antibodies against various chemokine receptors and intracellularly with antibodies toward IL-17 and IFN-γ. Consequently, we identified previously unrecognized subset of NK cells generated from normal human peripheral blood after activation with IL-2 but not PMA plus ionomycin. The cells are characterized by the expression of CD56(+) and CCR4(+), produce IL-17 and IFN-γ and are consequently named NK17/NK1 cells. They also express CD161, NKp30, NKp44, NKp46, NKG2D, CD158, CCL22, IL-2Rβ and the common γ chain but not CD127 or IL-23R. Further, they possess T-bet and RORγt transcription factors. Antibodies to IL-1β, IL-6, IL-21, or TGF-β1 do not inhibit IL-2-induced generation of NK17/NK1 cells, suggesting that IL-2 has the capacity to polarize these cells. Notably, NK17/NK1 cells are abundant in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) without activation, and are generated from the peripheral blood of these patients after activation with IL-2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NK17/NK1 cells identified here have not been previously described in healthy or MS patients.
authors: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Abhilash D
authors: AD
authors: Pandya
authors: Zaidoon
authors: Z
authors: Al-Jaderi
authors: Rune A
authors: RA
authors: Høglund
authors: Trygve
authors: T
authors: Holmøy
authors: Hanne F
authors: HF
authors: Harbo
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Norgauer
authors: Azzam A
authors: AA
authors: Maghazachi
mesh_terms: D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D020381:Interleukin-17; D007371:Interferon-gamma