title: Increased frequency of ILT2-expressing CD56(dim)CD16(+) NK cells correlates with disease severity of pulmonary tuberculosis.
abstract: The functional role of ILT2 in anti-tuberculosis immunity remains to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated expression and functions of ILT2 on NK cells during TB infection. The frequency of CD56(dim)CD16(+) NK cells that expressed ILT2 was significantly elevated in patients with active pulmonary TB as compared with tuberculin-positive healthy controls (p < 0.0001). TB patients with Mycobacterium tuberculosis smear/culture-positive result had significantly higher frequency of ILT2-expressing CD56(dim)CD16(+) NK cells than those with M. tuberculosis smear/culture-negative result (p < 0.0001), suggesting that ILT2 expression on CD56(dim)CD16(+) NK cells correlated with disease severity of pulmonary TB. ILT2-expressing CD56(dim) NK cells had a functional defect, as evidenced by reduced expression of CD107a and IFN-γ. Spontaneous apoptosis in ILT2(+)CD56(dim) NK cells was higher than in ILT2(-) cells. Blocking of ILT2 signaling resulted in increased expression of CD107a on CD56(dim)CD16(+) NK cells. It is concluded that ILT2 has an inhibitory role on NK cells in patients with active TB.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tuberculosis Prevention and Treatment of PLA, Division of Research, Institute of Tuberculosis, 309 Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xinjing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tuberculosis Prevention and Treatment of PLA, Division of Research, Institute of Tuberculosis, 309 Hospital, Beijing, China; Chinese Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xianghong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tuberculosis Prevention and Treatment of PLA, Division of Research, Institute of Tuberculosis, 309 Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tuberculosis Prevention and Treatment of PLA, Division of Research, Institute of Tuberculosis, 309 Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tuberculosis Prevention and Treatment of PLA, Division of Research, Institute of Tuberculosis, 309 Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Bingfen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tuberculosis Prevention and Treatment of PLA, Division of Research, Institute of Tuberculosis, 309 Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yanhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tuberculosis Prevention and Treatment of PLA, Division of Research, Institute of Tuberculosis, 309 Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tuberculosis Prevention and Treatment of PLA, Division of Research, Institute of Tuberculosis, 309 Hospital, Beijing, China. Electronic address: xcheng2@139.com.
authors.forename: Xiaoxing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017209:Apoptosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D020014:K562 Cells; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D000075362:Leukocyte Immunoglobulin-like Receptor B1; D052118:Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013183:Sputum / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; D019002:CD56 Antigen; C428200:FCGR3B protein, human; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; C573415:IFNG protein, human; C105299:LILRB1 protein, human; D000075362:Leukocyte Immunoglobulin-like Receptor B1; D052118:Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 1; C522918:NCAM1 protein, human; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: ILT2; Immunity; NK cells; Tuberculosis