title: HMGN2, a new anti-tumor effector molecule of CD8⁺ T cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells have been implicated as important cells in antitumor responses. Our previous research has shown that high mobility group nucleosomal-binding domain 2 (HMGN2) could be released by IL-2 and PHA stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and also induced tumor cells apoptosis at low doses. In this study, we isolated and cultured PBMCs and CD8⁺ T cells to analyze the expression and antitumor effects of HMGN2.
  
  
  METHODS
  PBMCs from healthy donors were isolated using Human Lymphocyte Separation tube. CD8⁺ T cells were separated from the PBMCs using MoFlo XDP high-speed flow cytometry sorter. Activation of PBMCs and CD8⁺ T cells were achieved by stimulating with Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or tumor antigen. In addition, the methods of ELISA, intracellular staining, and fluorescence-labeling assays were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PHA induced PBMCs to release high levels of HMGN2, and CD8⁺ T cells was the major cell population in PBMCs that release HMGN2 after PHA activation. Tumor antigen-activated CD8⁺ T cells also released high levels of HMGN2. Supernatants of tumor antigen-activated CD8⁺ T cells were able to kill tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner. This antitumor effect could be significantly blocked by using an anti-HMGN2 antibody. Fluorescence-labeling assays showed that the supernatant proteins of activated CD8⁺ T cells could be transported into tumor cells, and the transport visibly decreased after HMGN2 was depleted by anti-HMGN2 antibody.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that HMGN2 is an anti-tumor effector molecule of CD8⁺ T cells.
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Su
authors: Ankang
authors: A
authors: Hu
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Luo
authors: Wenjie
authors: W
authors: Zhou
authors: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. pingzhang68@hotmail.com.
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Zhang
authors: Yun
authors: Y
authors: Feng
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D024242:HMGN2 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D024242:HMGN2 Protein; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins