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Published on: March 24, 2015
Flow cytometric analysis of natural interferon-alpha producing cells
K Sandberg1, M L Eloranta, A Johannisson
1Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala.
Insights
Infrequent peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), termed natural interferon-alpha producing (NIP) cells, exhibit unique properties. These cells are distinct from known immune cells and may play a role in antiviral defense.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Herpes simplex virus infection triggers interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) production.
- This production occurs in rare peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) identified as natural IFN-alpha producing (NIP) cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the properties of NIP cells.
- To compare NIP cells with known leukocyte populations.
- To determine the lineage and potential function of NIP cells.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometric analysis and cell sorting were employed.
- NIP cells were analyzed for light scattering properties.
- Expression of various cell surface antigens (CD34, CD33, CD13, CD11b, CD15, CD14, CD10, CD19, CD7) was assessed.
Main Results:
- NIP cells exhibit distinct light scattering characteristics, resembling early progenitor cells.
- NIP cells lack CD34, CD33, CD13, CD11b, CD15, CD14, CD10, CD19, and CD7 antigens.
- These findings exclude NIP cells from myeloid, B-cell, and T-cell lineages.
Conclusions:
- NIP cells represent a unique and distinct cell type within peripheral blood.
- NIP cells may possess a specific physiological role in combating viral infections.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise function of NIP cells in innate immunity.
Abstract:
Herpes simplex virus-infected cells induce high interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) production in infrequent cells among peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), designated natural IFN-alpha producing (NIP) cells. The properties of such NIP cells were compared with defined populations of leucocytes by means of flow cytometric analysis and sorting. The NIP cells are characterized as a discrete population of cells with high forward and low to intermediate orthogonal light scattering, similar to that of early progenitors of myeloid and lymphoid cells. However, they appear to lack the stem cell-associated molecule CD34. Furthermore, NIP cells cannot be localized to the myeloid line of cell differentiation, because they do not express the CD33, CD13, CD11b, CD15 or CD14 antigens. Neither do they express CD10 and CD19 antigens which are present in all stages of B-cell differentiation plasma cells excepted, nor CD7 antigens expressed on early T cells. In combination with previous results, our data support the view that the NIP cell is a unique and distinct cell type in peripheral blood, possibly with a physiological role in the defence against certain viral infections.
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