Open AccessPotential role of natural killer cells in controlling growth and infiltration of AIDS‐associated primary effusion lymphoma cells
Author(s) -
Dewan Md. Zahidunnabi,
Terunuma Hiroshi,
Toi Masakazu,
Tanaka Yuetsu,
Katano Harutaka,
Deng Xuewen,
Abe Hiroyuki,
Nakasone Tadashi,
Mori Naoki,
Sata Tetsutaro,
Yamamoto Naoki
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2006.00319.x
Subject(s) - infiltration (hvac) , nod , immune system , cancer research , biology , interleukin 12 , natural killer cell , interleukin 21 , nk 92 , natural killer t cell , immunology , in vivo , cytotoxic t cell , t cell , in vitro , biochemistry , physics , microbiology and biotechnology , thermodynamics
Natural killer (NK) cells are an important component of the innate immune response against microbial infections and tumors. Direct involvement of NK cells in tumor growth and infiltration has not yet been demonstrated clearly. Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) cells were able to produce tumors and ascites very efficiently with infiltration of cells in various organs of T‐, B‐ and NK‐cell knock‐out NOD/SCID/γc null (NOG) mice within 3 weeks. In contrast, PEL cells formed small tumors at inoculated sites in T‐ and B‐cell knock‐out NOD/SCID mice with NK‐cells while completely failing to infiltrate into various organs. Immunosupression of NOD/SCID by treatment with an antimurine TM‐β1 antibody, which transiently abrogates NK cell activity in vivo , resulted in enhanced tumorigenicity and organ infiltration in comparison with non‐treated NOD/SCID mice. Activated human NK cells inhibited tumor growth and infiltration in NOG mice. Our results suggest that NK cells play an important role in growth and infiltration of PEL cells, and activated NK cells could be a promising immunotherapeutic tool against tumor or virus‐infected cells either alone or in combination with conventional therapy. The rapid and efficient engraftment of PEL cells in NOG mice also suggests that this new animal model could provide a unique opportunity to understand and investigate the mechanism of pathogenesis and malignant cell growth. ( Cancer Sci 2006; 97: 1381–1387)