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The Effect of Microbial Flora, Diet, and Age on the Tumoricidal Activity of Natural Killer Cells
Author(s) -
Bartizal Kenneth F.,
Salkowski Cindy,
Balish Edward,
Pleasants Julian R.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1002/jlb.36.6.739
Subject(s) - biology , flora (microbiology) , natural killer cell , ingredient , cell , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , cytotoxicity , food science , biochemistry , in vitro , genetics
This study examined the effects of diet (chemically defined vs natural‐ingredient), age, and microbial flora on the tumoricidal activity of natural killer (NK) cells from the spleens of mice. Results from a 4‐h 51 Cr‐release assay indicate the following: 1. Germfree C3H/HeCr mice raised on a chemically defined diet had significantly greater NK cell activity than their germfree or “clean‐conventional” (i.e., barrier‐maintained) counterparts who were raised on a sterilized natural‐ ingredient diet. 2. The NK activity of germfree mice was dramatically increased after their alimentary tract was colonized with a complex intestinal flora. 3. Conventional mice raised under clean (barrier) conditions had significantly less NK cell activity than nonbarrier‐maintained mice. 4. Switching germfree mice from a chemically defined diet to a sterile natural‐ingredient diet did not enhance NK cell activity. 5. No significant differences in NK activity were evident with C3H/HeCr mice of different (6–10 wk vs 29–36 wk) ages. These results indicate that diet and microbial flora can modulate the NK cell activity of mice.