Human NK cell subset functions are differentially affected by adipokines.

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Endocrinology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Obesity is a risk factor for infections and cancer.
• Increased adipose tissue alters adipogenesis and adipokine production.
• Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial for defense against viral and tumor cells.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate how adipocyte-conditioned medium (ACM) affects two distinct human NK cell subsets.
• Understand the role of NK cells in obesity-associated chronic inflammation.

Main Methods:

• Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were cultured with human and murine ACM.
• ACM concentrations and harvest days during adipogenesis varied.
• Fluorescent-activated cell sorting (FACS) analyzed NK cell subset functions.

Main Results:

• ACM regulated NK cell expression of TRAIL, GzmA, and IFN-γ in a subset-specific manner.
• IFN-γ expression in CD56(dim) NK cells and GzmA in CD56(bright) NK cells were altered by ACM.
• Adipokine effects on NK cell receptors and functions were species-specific.

Conclusions:

• NK cell subsets play distinct roles in obesity-associated chronic low-grade inflammation.
• Adipokine composition and species influence NK cell responses.
• Findings contribute to understanding immune dysregulation in obesity.