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Expansion, Purification, and Functional Assessment of Human Peripheral Blood NK Cells
10:44

Expansion, Purification, and Functional Assessment of Human Peripheral Blood NK Cells

Published on: February 2, 2011

Development of natural killer cell function in the human fetus

J Uksila, O Lassila, T Hirvonen

    Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
    |January 1, 1983
    PubMed

    Insights

    Natural killer (NK) cell activity develops early in human gestation, with premature infants showing functional NK capacity. This innate immunity can be enhanced by interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) treatment.

    Area of Science:

    • Immunology
    • Developmental Biology
    • Perinatology

    Background:

    • Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial for innate immunity.
    • Understanding the development of NK cell activity in utero is important for assessing fetal and neonatal immune competence.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the presence and functional capacity of NK cells in human fetuses and premature infants.
    • To determine the stage of gestation at which NK cell activity emerges.
    • To assess the potential for enhancing NK cell function with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha).

    Main Methods:

    • NK cell activity was assessed using a 4-hour 51Cr-release assay against the K-562 cell line.
    • Samples were obtained from premature infants (28-33 weeks gestation) and fetuses (9-22 weeks gestation).
    • In vitro IFN-alpha treatment was applied to evaluate its effect on NK cell cytotoxicity.

    Main Results:

    • Premature infants exhibited NK cell activity, though at lower levels than full-term newborns or adults.
    • Four out of eleven fetuses showed NK cell cytotoxicity against K-562 targets, primarily from fetal liver cells, as early as 9 weeks gestation.
    • Fetal bone marrow, spleen, and thymus showed minimal to no NK cell activity.
    • IFN-alpha treatment augmented NK cell activity in both premature infants and fetuses, but only in cells with pre-existing spontaneous activity.

    Conclusions:

    • Human NK cell activity originates during intrauterine development, detectable as early as 9 weeks gestation in fetal liver.
    • Premature infants possess functional NK cell capacity, indicating a foundational level of innate immunity.
    • IFN-alpha serves as a potential therapeutic agent to enhance NK cell function in immature immune systems.

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