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Natural Killer (NK) Cell Subsets and NK Cell Cytotoxicity in Women with Histories of Recurrent Spontaneous Abortions
Author(s) -
GilmanSachs Alice,
DuChateau Brian K.,
Aslakson Cheryl J.,
Wohlgemuth Ghislaine P.,
Kwak Joanne Y.,
Beer Alan E.,
Beaman Kenneth D.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0897.1999.tb00081.x
Subject(s) - cytotoxicity , cd16 , natural killer cell , lymphokine activated killer cell , immunology , interleukin 21 , flow cytometry , biology , lymphocyte , cell , immune system , cd3 , t cell , in vitro , cd8 , biochemistry
PROBLEM: Natural Killer (NK) cell measurement and NK cytotoxicity are two measurements for assessing the cellular immune response. Both of the techniques have been reported to be prognostic for women with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA), We evaluated the two methods to determine the relationship of the two assays. Because both methods portend to evaluate the same process, the previous clinical data suggested that the methods evaluate the same phenomena. We undertook these studies to determine whether simple NK cell counts may be sufficient in the evaluation of NK activity in RSA. METHOD OF STUDY: The NK cell cytotoxicity at effector‐to‐target ratios of 50:1 and 25:1 was determined using a flow cytometric NK cell cytotoxicity assay. These values were then correlated with the percentages and absolute counts of three peripheral blood NK cell subsets. RESULTS: The data indicate that the flow cytometric assay is reproducible and precise and can be successfully used to evaluate patient samples. Linear regression analysis indicated a lack of correlation between peripheral blood NK cell cytotoxicity and percentages or absolute counts of ***CD56+CD16+, CD56+CD16 — or CD3+CD56+ lymphocyte subsets (range of correlation coefficients, 0.1–0.3). CONCLUSIONS: NK cell cytotoxicity and peripheral blood NK cell values measure different aspects of NK cells and do not correlate. These data indicate that simple enumeration of NK cells may not be sufficient in the evaluation of NK cells in RSA.