NK cells differentiated from bone marrow, cord blood and peripheral blood stem cells exhibit similar phenotype and functions

The CD56-CD16+ NK cell subset in chronic infections

Long-term human diseases can shape the immune system, and natural killer (NK) cells have been documented to differentiate into distinct subsets specifically associated with chronic virus infections. One of these subsets found in large frequencies in HIV-1 are the CD56-CD16+ NK cells, and this population's association with chronic virus infections is the subject of this review. Human NK cells are classically defined by CD56 expression, yet increasing evidence supports the NK cell status of the CD56-CD16+ subset which we discuss herein. We then discuss the evidence linking CD56-CD16+ NK cells to chronic virus infections, and the potential immunological pathways that are altered by long-term infection that could be inducing the population's differentiation. An important aspect of NK cell regulation is their interaction with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class-I molecules, and we highlight work that indicates both virus and genetic-mediated variations in HLA expression that have been linked to CD56-CD16+ NK cell frequencies. Finally, we offer a perspective on CD56-CD16+ NK cell function, taking into account recent work that implies the subset is comparable to CD56+CD16+ NK cell functionality in antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity response, and the definition of CD56-CD16+ NK cell subpopulations with varying degranulation capacity against target cells.

Expansion and activation of natural killer cells from PBMC for immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To induce efficient expansion of natural killer (NK) cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using a culture of anchorage-dependent Wilms tumor cell lines, and to provide a reliable supply for adoptive immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS: Culture expansion of NK cells was achieved using PBMCs cultured with Wilms tumor cells. Cytotoxicity was measured using a standard ⁵¹Cr release assay and crystal violet staining technique. The proportions of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD16+, and CD56+ cells were determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTS: After PBMCs from healthy donors and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were cultured with irradiated HFWT cells for 10-21 d, CD56+CD16+ cells shared more than 50% of the cell population, and more than 80% of fresh HFWT cells were killed at an effector/target ratio of 2 over 24 h. NK-enriched lymphocyte population from HCC patients killed HCC-1 and 2 cells with sensitivities comparable to fresh TKB-17RGB cells. HCC cells proliferated 196-fold with the irradiated HFWT cells at 18 d. Stimulation by HFWT cells required intimate cell-cell interaction with PBMC. However, neither the soluble factors released from HFWT cells nor the fixed HFWT cells were effective for NK expansion. The lymphocytes expanded with IL-2 killed fresh HFWT target cells more effectively than the lymphocytes expanded with the 4-cytokine cocktail (IL-l β, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6). IL-2 was the sole cytokine required for NK expansion.

CONCLUSION: Wilms tumor is sensitive to human NK cells and is highly efficient for selective expansion of NK cells from PBMCs.