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Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Induction of Maternal Immune Activation in Mice at Mid-gestation Stage with Viral Mimic PolyI:C
Published on: March 25, 2016
Synergistic induction of interferon-γ by interleukin-2, interleukin-12 and poly(I:C) in a human natural killer cell
Hiroko Majima-Horiuchi1,2, Shihoko Komine-Aizawa1, Miki Karasaki-Suzuki3
1a Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology , Nihon University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan.
Abstract:
Natural killer (NK) cells express various Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Little is known about the role of TLRs in direct NK cell activation. To clarify possible synergistic roles of cytokine and TLR signaling, human NK cell line KHYG-1 was stimulated with agonists for TLR1-9. IFN-γ production was not significantly induced following stimulation with single TLR agonists. Of the nine TLR agonists tested, only poly(I:C) strongly upregulated IFN-γ production by synergistic interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-12 stimulation. The role of TLR3 signaling was also examined. An inhibitor of Toll-IL-1 receptor domain-containing adaptor inducing IFN-β (TRIF) blocked this synergistic action. However, TLR3 expression was unchanged in the presence of IL-2 and IL-12. Our findings suggest a possible role for type 1 cytokines in NK cell IFN-γ production against viral infections.
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