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Updated: May 21, 2026
Flow Cytometry-based Assay for the Monitoring of NK Cell Functions
Published on: October 30, 2016
The detection of NK cell alloreactivity by flow cytometric CD107a assay
Dianne De Santis1, Bree Foley, Campbell S Witt
1Department of Clinical Immunology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia. Dianne.DeSantis@health.wa.gov.au
Abstract:
Natural killer (NK) cell alloreactivity can be exploited in haploidentical (one haplotype mismatched) haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) to prevent leukaemia relapse, rejection, and graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) (Blood 94:333-339; Science 295:2097-2100). If NK cell alloreactivity is to be exploited in HSCT, it is important to be able to reliably select donors who have NK alloreactivity towards the patient. The detection of donor NK alloreactivity towards patient target cells has traditionally been evaluated by NK cell cloning and (51)Cr-release cytotoxicity assay. This approach is complex and time consuming with results taking up to 6 weeks. Here, we detail a novel flow cytometric CD107a-based assay capable of detecting NK cell alloreactivity in 14 days.
