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Mature resting Ly6C(high) natural killer cells can be reactivated by IL-15

Ai Omi1, Yutaka Enomoto, Tsuyoshi Kiniwa

  • 1Laboratory of Cell Growth and Differentiation, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

European Journal of Immunology
|July 5, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Mature natural killer (NK) cells exhibit plasticity, with Ly6C(high) NK cells representing a resting subset that can be activated to Ly6C(low) effector cells. This plasticity is crucial for mounting effective immune responses during infection.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Mature natural killer (NK) cells display heterogeneity in cell surface molecule expression, but the functional implications of these subsets are not fully elucidated.
  • Understanding NK cell heterogeneity is key to comprehending their roles in immune surveillance and response.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the functional differences and physiological roles of distinct NK cell subsets.
  • To characterize the Ly6C(low) and Ly6C(high) NK cell subsets in C57BL/6 mice.

Main Methods:

  • Flow cytometry to identify and sort Ly6C(low) and Ly6C(high) NK cell subsets.
  • Assessment of cytokine production (IFN-γ) and cytotoxic potential (granzyme B).
  • Adoptive transfer experiments and in vitro/in vivo stimulation with IL-15, polyI:C, and CpG.

Main Results:

  • C57BL/6 murine NK cells can be divided into Ly6C(low) and Ly6C(high) subsets based on Ly6C expression.
  • Ly6C(high) NK cells are characterized by lower IFN-γ and granzyme B production and reduced proliferative capacity, indicating a resting state.
  • Ly6C(high) NK cells are derived from Ly6C(low) NK cells in vivo and can be activated to Ly6C(low) effector cells upon IL-15 stimulation, both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusions:

  • Mature NK cells exhibit significant plasticity, with Ly6C(high) cells serving as a reservoir of resting cells.
  • This plasticity allows for a rapid and robust NK cell response upon encountering inflammatory stimuli like IL-15.
  • The Ly6C(high) to Ly6C(low) transition is a critical mechanism for effective immune responses to infections.

Keywords:
Innate immunityInterleukinMemoryNK cellViral infection

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