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A distinct distribution of natural killer cell subgroups in human tissues and blood
Author(s) -
Möller Marcus J.,
Kammerer Robert,
von Kleist Sabine
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0215(19981123)78:5<533::aid-ijc1>3.0.co;2-2
Subject(s) - natural killer cell , cd16 , biology , lymphokine activated killer cell , interleukin 12 , interleukin 21 , cytotoxic t cell , cd3 , nk 92 , immunology , cancer research , immune system , t cell , cd8 , in vitro , biochemistry
Natural killer (NK) cells have been subdivided according to their CD16/ CD56 expression into at least 2 subgroups. We examined the distribution of these NK subgroups in humans. In the blood of normal individuals, CD16 ++ / CD56 + / CD3 – NK cells predominate, constituting more than 90% of all NK cells. In contrast, decidua is infiltrated almost exclusively by CD16 +/ – / CD56 + / CD3 – NK cells (>90%), a fact so far seen in context with decidua being an immunoprivileged tissue. However, this NK subgroup can also be detected in the blood, where it comprises about 10% of NK cells. We have found that normal (colon) as well as neoplastic (ovarian and urothelial carcinoma) tissues are also predominantly infiltrated by this CD16 +/ – NK subgroup. Lymphatic fluid draining solid tissues contains CD16 +/ – NK cells exclusively, with absolute numbers of NK cells being very low. No predominating NK subgroup was seen in ascites. CD16 +/ – NK cells, when tested against the target cell lines K562 and JAR, revealed a cytotoxic spectrum different from CD16 ++ NK cells and from T cells. A change in the CD16/ CD56/ CD3 phenotype was not seen in either subgroup in long‐term cultures containing IL‐2 (1,000 U/ ml). Our data indicate that the decidua is not the only solid tissue infiltrated by CD16 +/ – NK cells. Other normal and malignant tissues were also infiltrated predominantly by this NK cell subgroup. We suggest that CD16 +/ – NK cells represent a functionally distinct NK subgroup involved in the surveillance of solid tissues. Int. J. Cancer 78:533–538, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.