title: Up-regulation of NKG2A inhibitory receptor on circulating NK cells contributes to transfusion-induced immunodepression in patients with β-thalassemia major.
abstract: Accumulating evidence has shown that allogeneic blood transfusions can induce significant immunosuppression in recipients, and thereby increase the risk of postoperative infection and/or tumor relapse. Although it is well known that natural killer (NK) cells are responsible for the immunodepression effects of transfusion, the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. In this study, we investigated the role of NK cells in transfusion-induced immunodepression in β-thalassemia major. The proportion of circulating NK cells and the expression of NK receptors (NKG2A, CD158a, NKP30, NKP46 and NKG2D) as well as CD107a were detected by multicolor flow cytometry. IFN-γ production by circulating NK cells was detected by intracellular cytokine staining. Our results showed that the proportion and cytotoxicity (CD107a expression) of circulating NK cells in transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia major patients were remarkably lower than those of β-thalassemia minor patients or healthy volunteers. Expression of NKG2A inhibitory receptor on circulating NK cells in patients with β-thalassemia major was remarkably up-regulated, but there were no significant differences in the expression levels of NKP30, NKP46, NKG2D, CD158a and IFN-γ. These results indicate NKG2A inhibitory receptor may play a key role in transfusion-induced immunodepression of NK cells in patients with β-thalassemia major.
authors.affiliation: Department of Blood Transfusion, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Xing
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Blood Transfusion, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, the First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, 528000, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Blood Transfusion, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Blood Transfusion, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
authors.forename: Si-Hong
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Preterm Birth Prevention and Treatment Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, GuangZhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510180, China. lemon0698@163.com.
authors.forename: Jun-Jie
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D055628:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 3 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D054342:Receptors, KIR2DL1 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C527085:KLRK1 protein, human; C112260:NCR1 protein, human; C431710:NCR3 protein, human; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1; D055628:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 3; D054342:Receptors, KIR2DL1
keywords: NKG2A; immunodepression; natural killer cells; thalassemia; transfusion