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Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Artificial Antigen Presenting Cell (aAPC) Mediated Activation and Expansion of Natural Killer T Cells
Published on: December 29, 2012
The activity of natural cytotoxic cells is augmented by interleukin 2 and interleukin 3
Murine natural killer (NK) and natural cytotoxic (NC) cells showed different patterns of augmentation of lytic activity after preincubation for 24 h with either poly-IC, interleukin 2 (IL-2), or interleukin 3 (IL-3): (a) Poly-IC augmented only NK cells, with no effect on NC activity, as we have previously observed (4); (b) IL-2 augmented both NK and NC activity; and (c) IL-3 augmented only NC lysis, without affecting NK activity. In addition, both precursor and the augmented effector cells showed differences in expression of the Qa-5 surface marker: NK precursors and effectors are Qa 5+, whereas NC precursors and effector cells are Qa-5-.
Murine natural killer (NK) and natural cytotoxic (NC) cells showed different patterns of augmentation of lytic activity after preincubation for 24 h with either poly-IC, interleukin 2 (IL-2), or interleukin 3 (IL-3): (a) Poly-IC augmented only NK cells, with no effect on NC activity, as we have previously observed (4); (b) IL-2 augmented both NK and NC activity; and (c) IL-3 augmented only NC lysis, without affecting NK activity. In addition, both precursor and the augmented effector cells showed differences in expression of the Qa-5 surface marker: NK precursors and effectors are Qa 5+, whereas NC precursors and effector cells are Qa-5-.
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