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Functional p75 interleukin-2 receptor expression on the fresh blast cells in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
M Ichikawa1, H Kawai, A Komiyama
1Department of Pediatrics, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.
Insights
Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells with natural killer (NK) properties express functional p75 interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R). These receptors enhance NK activity and thymidine uptake in leukemia blast cells.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Oncology
Background:
- Investigating the immunophenotype and functional characteristics of neoplastic cells in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
- Focusing on leukemic cells exhibiting natural killer (NK) cell properties.
Observation:
- Neoplastic cells from a pediatric ALL patient displayed NK cell markers (CD56+, CD2+, E-rosette+, CD3-, CD19-) and spontaneous cytotoxicity against K562 target cells.
- p75 interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R) were detected on 70% of ALL blast cells using flow cytometry, while p55 Tac antigen was not detectable.
- Two-color flow cytometry confirmed co-expression of p75 IL-2R and NKH-1 on the blast cells.
Findings:
- Treatment with recombinant IL-2 (rIL-2) significantly augmented the NK activity of ALL blast cells, increasing cytotoxicity from 22.0% to 38.7%.
- Despite limited proliferative capacity, rIL-2 treatment induced a 2.7-fold increase in thymidine uptake by the blast cells.
- These findings demonstrate the presence and functionality of p75 IL-2R on ALL blast cells with NK properties.
Implications:
- The expression of functional p75 IL-2R suggests potential therapeutic targets for ALL with NK-like features.
- Understanding IL-2 receptor function in these specific leukemia cells could inform novel treatment strategies.
- This research contributes to the characterization of unique leukemia cell subsets and their interactions with the immune system.
Abstract:
Neoplastic cells of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with natural killer (NK) cell properties were studied for the expression of p75 interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R) and the receptor functions. Freshly prepared blast cells from a patient with ALL had NK cell properties: (1) the phenotype such as CD56+, CD2+, E-rosette+, CD3-, and CD19-; and (2) the presence of spontaneous cytotoxicity against NK-sensitive K562 target cells. Although p55 Tac antigen was not detectable, there was the expression of p75 IL-2R on the freshly prepared blast cells: 70% of the cells reacted with Mik-beta 1 monoclonal antibody against p75 IL-2R as determined by flow cytometry. Two-color flow cytometry revealed that the blast cells expressed both p75 IL-2R and NKH-1. NK activity of the blast cells was augmented by their treatment with 1,000 U/ml recombinant IL-2 (rIL-2): the cytotoxicity level as percentage lysis increased to 38.7% from 22.0% when the normal lymphocyte value increased to 62.1% from 46.2%. Although the blast cells possessed no apparent level of proliferative capacity, the addition of 1,000 U/ml rIL-2 yielded a 2.7-fold increase in their thymidine uptake. These results demonstrate the expression of functional p75 IL-2R on the patient's blast cells with NK cell properties.
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