title: In vitro analysis of the proliferative capacity and cytotoxic effects of ex vivo induced natural killer cells, cytokine-induced killer cells, and gamma-delta T cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent studies have focused on the significant cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells, cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells, and gamma-delta (γδ) T cells in tumor cells. Nevertheless, the therapeutic features of these cell types have not been compared in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of activation and expansion of NK, CIK, and γδ T cells from cancer patients in vitro, and to clarify the differences in their antitumor capacities.
  
  
  METHODS
  NK, CIK, and γδ T cells were induced from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 20 cancer patients by using specific cytokines. Expression of CD69, NKG2D, CD16, granzyme B, perforin, IFN-γ, and IL-2 was measured by flow cytometry. Cytokine production and cytotoxicity were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Calcein-AM methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NK cell proliferation was superior to that of CIK cells, but lower than that of γδ T cells. NK cells had a much stronger ability to secrete perforin, granzyme B, IFN-γ, and IL-2 than did CIK and γδ T cells, and imparted significantly higher overall cytotoxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expanded NK cells from cancer patients are the most effective immune cells in the context of cytokine secretion and anti-tumor cytotoxicity in comparison to CIK and γδ T cells, making them an optimal candidate for adoptive cellular immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China. niuchao1983@163.com.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China. haofanjin1968@163.com.
authors.forename: Haofan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China. minlili1984@163.com.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China. 79001501@qq.com.
authors.forename: Jianting
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China. 349338618@qq.com.
authors.forename: Dongsheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China. jifanhu@163.com.
authors.forename: Jifan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China. huahe_1985@163.com.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China. dwweili@163.com.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China. jiuweicui@163.com.
authors.forename: Jiuwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D055612:Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D053804:Granzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054353:Perforin / Q000378:metabolism; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D054353:Perforin; D053804:Granzymes