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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Flow Cytometry-based Assay for the Monitoring of NK Cell Functions
Published on: October 30, 2016
Cytolytic activity of human natural killer cell subpopulations isolated by four-color immunofluorescence flow
E F Srour1, T Leemhuis, L Jenski
1Department of Medicine (Hematology/Oncology), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202.
Abstract:
The natural killer activity and phenotypic properties of six different subpopulations of normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained by four-color immunofluorescence cell sorting were examined. Phycoerythrin-conjugated CD16 and CD56 were used simultaneously to identify (CD16 + CD56+) NK cells. The cells most effective in mediating NK cytolysis against K562 target cells were CD3-(16 + 56+)57 -8+. Although most of the K562 killing was found in the CD3-(16 + 56 +) groups of cells, a substantial degree of NK activity was detected in the CD3+(16 + 56 +) subpopulations of some individuals. The level of expression of CD57 and CD8 was significantly higher on CD3+(16 + 56 +) than on CD3-(16 + 56 +) cells.
