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Flow Cytometry-based Assay for the Monitoring of NK Cell Functions
Published on: October 30, 2016
Interleukin 2- and interferon alpha induced natural killer cell activity as a marker of progression in hairy cell
J Bigda1, J Mysliwska, W Baran
1Department of Histology, Medical School, Gdansk, Poland.
Insights
Natural killer (NK) cell activity is impaired in hairy cell leukemia (HCL). Cytokine therapy can restore NK activity in stable HCL but not progressive HCL, suggesting NK activity predicts disease stage.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Immunology
- Oncology
Background:
- Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare B-cell malignancy often associated with immune system dysfunction.
- Impaired natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity is a common finding in HCL patients at diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term follow-up of NK cell activity in splenectomized HCL patients.
- To evaluate the effect of interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) and interleukin 2 (IL2) on NK activity in different HCL disease stages.
Main Methods:
- Long-term follow-up study of NK activity in splenectomized HCL patients.
- Classification of patients into stable disease and progressive disease groups.
- In vitro testing of NK activity modulation by IFN-alpha and IL2.
Main Results:
- Stable HCL patients showed either normal or low NK activity, while progressive HCL patients consistently had low NK activity.
- IFN-alpha and IL2 restored NK activity to normal levels in stable HCL patients.
- These cytokines had a significantly reduced effect on NK activity in progressive HCL patients.
Conclusions:
- Cytokine-induced NK cytotoxicity is a potential biomarker for assessing HCL disease stage.
- NK cell function and its response to cytokines differ significantly between stable and progressive HCL.
Abstract:
Hairy cell leukemia (HCL), a rare B-cell chronic lymphoproliferative disorder, is often accompanied by immune abnormalities. A marked impairment of the natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity (NK activity) has been reported in most patients at diagnosis. In the present report a long-term follow-up study of NK activity of splenectomized HCL patients is recorded. Among patients who persisted with stable disease two groups, one with normal NK activity, and another with low NK activity, could be recognized. Patients with progressive stage were characterized by a low NK cytotoxic activity. In vitro tests showed that interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) and interleukin 2 (IL2) could increase the NK activity to normal levels only in HCL patients with stable disease, while in progressive HCL these cytokines showed a significantly decreased effect. These results indicate that cytokine-induced NK cytotoxicity appears to be a valuable parameter in assessing the stage of HCL.
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