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Differential activation of CD 57‐defined natural killer cell subsets during recall responses to vaccine antigens
Author(s) -
White Matthew J.,
Nielsen Carolyn M.,
McGregor Reuben H. C.,
Riley Eleanor M.,
Goodier Martin R.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1111/imm.12239
Subject(s) - cytotoxic t cell , immunology , biology , immune system , pertussis toxin , pertussis vaccine , antigen , interleukin 12 , interleukin 21 , t cell , natural killer cell , receptor , immunization , in vitro , g protein , biochemistry
Summary Natural killer ( NK ) cells contribute to the effector phase of vaccine‐induced adaptive immune responses, secreting cytokines and releasing cytotoxic granules. The proportion of responding NK cells varies between individuals and by vaccine, suggesting that functionally discrete subsets of NK cells with different activation requirements may be involved. Here, we have used responses to individual components of the DTP vaccine [tetanus toxoid ( TT ), diphtheria toxoid ( DT ), whole cell inactivated pertussis] to characterize the NK cell subsets involved in interleukin‐2‐dependent recall responses. Culture with TT , DT or pertussis induced NK cell CD 25 expression and interferon‐ γ production in previously vaccinated individuals. Responses were the most robust against whole cell pertussis, with responses to TT being particularly low. Functional analysis of discrete NK cell subsets revealed that transition from CD 56 bright to CD 56 dim correlated with increased responsiveness to CD 16 cross‐linking, whereas increasing CD 57 expression correlated with a loss of responsiveness to cytokines. A higher frequency of CD 56 dim CD 57 − NK cells expressed CD 25 and interferon‐ γ following stimulation with vaccine antigen compared with CD 56 dim CD 57 + NK cells and made the largest overall contribution to this response. CD 56 dim CD 57 int NK cells represent an intermediate functional phenotype in response to vaccine‐induced and receptor‐mediated stimuli. These findings have implications for the ability of NK cells to contribute to the effector response after vaccination and for vaccine‐induced immunity in older individuals.