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Updated: Aug 4, 2025
Single-cell Analysis of Immunophenotype and Cytokine Production in Peripheral Whole Blood via Mass Cytometry
Published on: June 26, 2018
Decrease in cell counts and alteration of phenotype characterize peripheral NK cells of patients with
Sang Lin1, Yinli Zhang2, Zhengyi Cao3
1Department of Rheumatology, Key Myositis Laboratories, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China; China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100029, China; Beijing Key Lab for Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China.
Peripheral natural killer (NK) cells are decreased in anti-MDA5+ dermatomyositis (DM) patients, with lower counts linked to disease activity and mortality. These NK cells also show an inhibitory phenotype, suggesting impaired function in anti-MDA5+ DM.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) positive dermatomyositis (DM) is an autoimmune condition with distinct clinical and pathological features.
- Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial components of the innate immune system, involved in host defense and immune regulation.
- Understanding the role of peripheral NK cells in anti-MDA5+ DM is essential for elucidating disease pathogenesis and identifying potential therapeutic targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the levels and phenotypes of peripheral NK cells in patients with anti-MDA5+ DM.
- To analyze the association between NK cell characteristics and clinical features, including disease activity and prognosis.
- To identify specific NK cell phenotypes that may contribute to the pathophysiology of anti-MDA5+ DM.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective collection of peripheral NK cell counts (NKCC) from 497 patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) and 60 healthy controls.
- Multi-color flow cytometry analysis of NK cell phenotypes in 48 DM patients and 26 healthy controls.
- Statistical analysis to correlate NKCC and NK cell phenotypes with clinical features and prognosis in anti-MDA5+ DM patients.
Main Results:
- NKCC were significantly lower in anti-MDA5+ DM patients compared to other IIM subtypes and healthy controls.
- Lower NKCC correlated with increased disease activity and was an independent risk factor for 6-month mortality (NKCC < 27 cells/μL).
- Anti-MDA5+ DM patients exhibited an increased expression of the inhibitory marker CD39 on CD56brightCD16dim NK cells, along with altered expression of other functional markers (NKG2A, NKG2D, Ki-67, Tim-3, LAG-3, CD25, CD107a) and reduced TNF-α production.
Conclusions:
- Peripheral NK cells in anti-MDA5+ DM patients are characterized by decreased cell counts.
- An inhibitory NK cell phenotype, marked by increased CD39 expression, is a significant feature in anti-MDA5+ DM.
- These findings highlight the altered immune landscape in anti-MDA5+ DM and suggest a role for NK cells in disease pathogenesis and outcome.
