IL-2 and IL-7 but not IL-12 protect natural killer cells from death by apoptosis and up-regulate bcl-2 expression

Human natural killer cells (NK) respond to interleukin-2 (IL-2) with augmented cytolytic activity, cytokine secretion and cell proliferation. Here we show that IL-2 protects NK cells from death by apoptosis (programmed cell death; PCD). Highly purified NK cells (CD3- CD56+) were isolated from peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of either control donors or of an asymptomatic donor with 60% NK cells. Glucocorticosteroids (GCS) induced PCD in NK cells, as shown by nuclear condensation and DNA fragmentation. IL-2 completely prevented GCS-induced PCD in a dose-dependent manner without overcoming GCS-induced inhibition of NK cell proliferation. The IL-2 protective effect was mediated through the p75 beta chain of the IL-2R, as neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) to the p75 beta chain but not to the p55 alpha chain completely abolished the IL-2 anti-apoptotic activity. In addition to IL-2, the cytokines IL-7 and IL-12 have been reported to regulate NK cell functions. Our present data showed that IL-7 but not IL-12 rescued NK cells from apoptosis, but to a lesser extent than IL-2. Although IL-4 had a marginal protective effect, IL-1, IL-3, IL-6, IL-8, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and IFN-alpha, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) displayed no significant activity. Finally, we report that IL-2 and IL-7 enhanced bcl-2 expression in NK cells, suggesting the existence of a bcl-2-dependent survival pathway. In addition to regulating various functions, it is concluded that IL-2 and IL-7 have the ability to prevent PCD in NK cells.