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CD11cloB220+ interferon-producing killer dendritic cells are activated natural killer cells

Christian A J Vosshenrich1, Sarah Lesjean-Pottier, Milena Hasan

  • 1Unité des Cytokines et Développement Lymphoide, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France.

The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 10, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Interferon-producing killer dendritic cells (IKDCs) development is IL-15 dependent, similar to natural killer (NK) cells. Most IKDC-like cells are actually activated NK cells, not a distinct subset.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Interferon-producing killer dendritic cells (IKDCs) are a recently identified immune cell subset.
  • IKDCs exhibit characteristics of both dendritic cells (DCs) and natural killer (NK) cells.
  • IKDC development is regulated by specific cytokine receptor chains, notably IL-2Rbeta but not gamma(c).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the developmental requirements and phenotypic characteristics of IKDCs.
  • To determine the relationship between IKDCs and NK cells.
  • To clarify the cellular identity of CD11c(lo)B220(+) cells.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of immune cell development in genetically modified mice (Rag2(-/-)gamma(c)(-/)y, Rag2(-/-)IL-2Rbeta(-/-), Rag2(-/-)IL-15(-/-), Rag2(-/-)IL-2(-/-)).
  • Assessment of gene expression, specifically Ncr-1 (encoding NKp46), in different immune cell populations.
  • Flow cytometry analysis of cell surface markers (CD11c, B220, MHC-II, NK1.1) on developing and mature NK cells, including in vitro and in vivo activation studies.

Main Results:

  • IKDC development is strictly dependent on IL-15, mirroring NK cell development.
  • IKDCs uniformly express NKp46, an NK-specific marker.
  • Phenotypic analysis revealed that most CD11c(lo)B220(+) cells with IKDC-like features are activated NK cells, not a distinct IKDC subset.

Conclusions:

  • The development of IKDCs is intrinsically linked to IL-15 signaling pathways, similar to NK cells.
  • The majority of cells previously identified as IKDCs are likely activated NK cells exhibiting upregulated CD11c, MHC-II, and B220 expression.
  • This study reclassifies a significant portion of putative IKDCs as activated NK cells, refining our understanding of innate lymphoid cell populations.

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