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Natural Killer (NK) Cell Assays in Immunotoxicity Testing

Qing Li1,2

  • 1Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan. qing-li@nms.ac.jp.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|June 9, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Natural killer (NK) cell assays are crucial for immunotoxicity testing. Methods like chromium-51 release and flow cytometry assess NK cell function against viruses and tumors.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Natural killer (NK) cells are vital for innate immunity, defending against viral infections and tumors.
  • NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity involves the release of granules containing perforin, granzymes, and granulysin.
  • Evaluating NK cell function is critical in immunotoxicity testing to understand chemical impacts on the immune system.

Purpose of the Study:

  • This chapter details methods for assessing natural killer (NK) cell function in immunotoxicity testing.
  • It highlights the importance of evaluating NK cell activity for safety assessments.
  • The goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of relevant NK cell assays.

Main Methods:

  • Cytolytic activity is measured using the chromium-51 (51Cr)-release assay against target tumor cells.
  • Flow cytometry quantifies NK cell numbers in peripheral blood (humans) and spleen (animals).
  • Intracellular levels of perforin, granzymes, and granulysin are determined via flow cytometry.
  • Chemical-induced apoptosis in NK cells is also employed as an assessment method.

Main Results:

  • Various methods exist to evaluate NK cell function, including cytotoxicity assays and cell enumeration.
  • Intracellular granule content analysis provides insights into NK cell effector mechanisms.
  • Apoptosis assays reveal direct chemical toxicity to NK cells.
  • These assays collectively contribute to a comprehensive immunotoxicity evaluation.

Conclusions:

  • NK cell assays are essential tools for immunotoxicity testing.
  • A combination of functional and phenotypic assessments provides a robust evaluation of NK cell health and activity.
  • Understanding NK cell responses is key to identifying potential immune-disrupting chemicals.
Keywords:
ApoptosisChromium releaseFlow cytometryGranulysinGranzymesImmunotoxicityNK activityPerforin

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