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Fas involvement in human NK cell apoptosis: lack of a requirement for CD16‐mediated events
Author(s) -
Ortaldo John R.,
WinklerPickett Robin T.,
Nagata Shigekazu,
Ware Carl F.
Publication year - 1997
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.61.2.209
Subject(s) - biology , cd16 , apoptosis , fas receptor , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer research , programmed cell death , genetics , immune system , cd3 , cd8
Propriocidal regulation of T cells refers to apoptosis induced by interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) activation with subsequent antigen receptor stimulation. We previously reported that natural killer (NK) cells also exhibit propriocidal death. Cell death can be induced following occupancy of the FcγRm (CD16) receptor when NK cells were pretreated with IL‐2, IL‐12, or IL‐15. Here we show other triggering receptors on NK cells such as CD44, anti‐NK‐receptor antibodies, and pharmacological activation can result in the cell death signal. Requirement for cell interactions indicated that cell contact was required; however, unlike cell‐mediated lysis, extracellular calcium was not required. Like T cells, the process of cell death for NK cells was receptor‐induced apoptosis. Activation‐induced apoptosis of T cells is mediated by members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) cytokine superfamily. We examined the involvement of TNF receptor family members or Fas in this rapid cell death. Antibody directed against Fas, TNFR 60 , TNFR 80 , LTBR, and LTα failed to inhibit receptor‐induced death. Therefore, NK cells appear to demonstrate a rapid apoptotic episode when CD16 is cross‐linked, but the mechanism of this apoptosis is quite different than was observed in T cells with CD3. The direct examination of the Fas pathway on activated NK cells revealed that susceptibility required longer treatment times and IL‐2 activation. This susceptibility was paralleled by increased Fas‐ligand expression. Therefore, NK cells can demonstrate an apoptotic response to CD16, CD44, NK receptors, and Fas. The enumeration of ligands capable of eliciting NK cell death and the in vivo relevance of this observation require further study. J. Leuhoc. Biol . 61: 209–215; 1997.