title: [Study of NK cells dysfunction in multiple myeloma patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the mechanism of NK cell dysfunction in patients with multiple myeloma (MM).
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of inhibitory receptors (CD158a and CD158b) and activating receptors NKG2D and NCRs (NKp30, NKp44 and NKp46) on CD3-CD56+NK cell of 13 MM patients and 30 healthy controls were analyzed by flow cytometry. The concentration of soluble NKG2D ligands (MICA, MICB, ULBP1, ULBP2 and ULBP3) in serum was detected by enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the cytotoxicity of NK cell against MM cell line by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There are no significant differences of percentage and absolute number of NK cells, and the expression level of CD158a and CD158b between MM patients and healthy individuals (P>0.05). No NKp44 expression was detected on fresh isolated NK cells from both groups. There is no difference in inhibitor receptors expression between MM patients and healthy individuals but the expression of NKG2D, NKp30 and NKp46 on NK cells were higher in MM patients as compared with that in healthy individuals. The concentration of soluble NKG2D ligands in serum was higher in MM patients as compared with that in healthy individuals (P<0.05). Cultured healthy individual's NK cells with MM patient's serum could significantly decrease its cytotoxicity against MM cell line U266 cells [(38.5 ± 6.5) % vs (25.4 ± 5.9)%, P=0.044］.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The higher level of soluble NKG2D ligands in serum may be the mechanism of NK cell dysfunction in MM patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou 213003, China.
authors.forename: Wenmin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou 213003, China.
authors.forename: Xiuwen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou 213003, China.
authors.forename: Zhuxia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou 213003, China.
authors.forename: Jinyuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou 213003, China.
authors.forename: Hongying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou 213003, China.
authors.forename: Jianhe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou 213003, China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou 213003, China.
authors.forename: Xuzhang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K / Q000378:metabolism; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D055629:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D055628:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D054342:Receptors, KIR2DL1 / Q000378:metabolism; D054344:Receptors, KIR2DL3 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C527085:KLRK1 protein, human; C112260:NCR1 protein, human; C112837:NCR2 protein, human; C431710:NCR3 protein, human; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1; D055629:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 2; D055628:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 3; D054342:Receptors, KIR2DL1; D054344:Receptors, KIR2DL3