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Mace EM. Human natural killer cells: Form, function, and development. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2023; 151:371-385. [PMID: 36195172 PMCID: PMC9905317 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2022.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Human natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells that mediate important effector functions in the control of viral infection and malignancy. Their ability to distinguish "self" from "nonself" and lyse virally infected and tumorigenic cells through germline-encoded receptors makes them important players in maintaining human health and a powerful tool for immunotherapeutic applications and fighting disease. This review introduces our current understanding of NK cell biology, including key facets of NK cell differentiation and the acquisition and execution of NK cell effector function. Further, it addresses the clinical relevance of NK cells in both primary immunodeficiency and immunotherapy. It is intended to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of this important and interesting innate immune effector cell subset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M Mace
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York.
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2
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Rettman P, Blunt MD, Fulton RJ, Vallejo AF, Bastidas-Legarda LY, España-Serrano L, Polak ME, Al-Shamkhani A, Retiere C, Khakoo SI. Peptide: MHC-based DNA vaccination strategy to activate natural killer cells by targeting killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:e001912. [PMID: 34016721 PMCID: PMC8141441 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natural killer (NK) cells are increasingly being recognized as agents for cancer immunotherapy. The killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are expressed by NK cells and are immunogenetic determinants of the outcome of cancer. In particular, KIR2DS2 is associated with protective responses to several cancers and also direct recognition of cancer targets in vitro. Due to the high homology between activating and inhibitory KIR genes to date, it has been challenging to target individual KIR for therapeutic benefit. METHODS A novel KIR2DS2-targeting therapeutic peptide:MHC DNA vaccine was designed and used to immunize mice transgenic for KIR genes (KIR-Tg). NK cells were isolated from the livers and spleens of vaccinated mice and then analyzed for activation by flow cytometry, RNA profiling and cytotoxicity assays. In vivo assays of NK cell function using a syngeneic cancer model (B16 melanoma) and an adoptive transfer model for human hepatocellular carcinoma (Huh7) were performed. RESULTS Injecting KIR-Tg mice with the vaccine construct activated NK cells in both liver and spleens of mice, with preferential activation of KIR2DS2-positive NK cells. KIR-specific activation was most marked on the CD11b+CD27+ mature subset of NK cells. RNA profiling indicated that the DNA vaccine upregulated genes associated with cellular metabolism and downregulated genes related to histone H3 methylation, which are associated with immune cell maturation and NK cell function. Vaccination led to canonical and cross-reactive peptide:MHC-specific NK cell responses. In vivo, DNA vaccination led to enhanced antitumor responses against B16F10 melanoma cells and also enhanced responses against a tumor model expressing the KIR2DS2 ligand HLA-C*0102. CONCLUSION We show the feasibility of a peptide-based KIR-targeting vaccine strategy to activate NK cells and hence generate functional antitumor responses. This approach does not require detailed knowledge of the tumor peptidomes nor HLA matching with the patient. It therefore offers a novel opportunity for targeting NK cells for cancer immunotherapy.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cancer Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Cancer Vaccines/genetics
- Cancer Vaccines/immunology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cytotoxicity, Immunologic/drug effects
- HLA-C Antigens/administration & dosage
- HLA-C Antigens/genetics
- HLA-C Antigens/immunology
- Haplotypes
- Humans
- Killer Cells, Natural/drug effects
- Killer Cells, Natural/immunology
- Killer Cells, Natural/metabolism
- Lectins, C-Type/genetics
- Lectins, C-Type/immunology
- Lectins, C-Type/metabolism
- Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Liver Neoplasms/genetics
- Liver Neoplasms/immunology
- Liver Neoplasms/metabolism
- Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/drug effects
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/immunology
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/metabolism
- Melanoma, Experimental/drug therapy
- Melanoma, Experimental/genetics
- Melanoma, Experimental/immunology
- Melanoma, Experimental/metabolism
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Transgenic
- Peptides/administration & dosage
- Peptides/genetics
- Peptides/immunology
- Receptors, Immunologic/genetics
- Receptors, Immunologic/immunology
- Receptors, Immunologic/metabolism
- Receptors, KIR/genetics
- Receptors, KIR/immunology
- Receptors, KIR/metabolism
- Skin Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Skin Neoplasms/genetics
- Skin Neoplasms/immunology
- Skin Neoplasms/metabolism
- Vaccination
- Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, DNA/genetics
- Vaccines, DNA/immunology
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Rettman
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Matthew D Blunt
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Rebecca J Fulton
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Andres F Vallejo
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Leidy Y Bastidas-Legarda
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Laura España-Serrano
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Marta E Polak
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Aymen Al-Shamkhani
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Centre for Cancer Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | | | - Salim I Khakoo
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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3
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Rosenstock P, Kaufmann T. Sialic Acids and Their Influence on Human NK Cell Function. Cells 2021; 10:263. [PMID: 33572710 PMCID: PMC7911748 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Sialic acids are sugars with a nine-carbon backbone, present on the surface of all cells in humans, including immune cells and their target cells, with various functions. Natural Killer (NK) cells are cells of the innate immune system, capable of killing virus-infected and tumor cells. Sialic acids can influence the interaction of NK cells with potential targets in several ways. Different NK cell receptors can bind sialic acids, leading to NK cell inhibition or activation. Moreover, NK cells have sialic acids on their surface, which can regulate receptor abundance and activity. This review is focused on how sialic acids on NK cells and their target cells are involved in NK cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Rosenstock
- Institute for Physiological Chemistry, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Hollystr. 1, D-06114 Halle/Saale, Germany;
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4
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Le Saux G, Schvartzman M. Advanced Materials and Devices for the Regulation and Study of NK Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E646. [PMID: 30717370 PMCID: PMC6386824 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20030646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that contribute to immune protection by cytosis, cytokine secretion, and regulation of adaptive responses of T cells. NK cells distinguish between healthy and ill cells, and generate a cytotoxic response, being cumulatively regulated by environmental signals delivered through their diverse receptors. Recent advances in biomaterials and device engineering paved the way to numerous artificial microenvironments for cells, which produce synthetic signals identical or similar to those provided by the physiological environment. In this paper, we review recent advances in materials and devices for artificial signaling, which have been applied to regulate NK cells, and systematically study the role of these signals in NK cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Le Saux
- Department of Materials Engineering, Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel.
| | - Mark Schvartzman
- Department of Materials Engineering, Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel.
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5
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Huang Y, Chen Z, Jang JH, Baig MS, Bertolet G, Schroeder C, Huang S, Hu Q, Zhao Y, Lewis DE, Qin L, Zhu MX, Liu D. PD-1 blocks lytic granule polarization with concomitant impairment of integrin outside-in signaling in the natural killer cell immunological synapse. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2018; 142:1311-1321.e8. [PMID: 29679656 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2018.02.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Revised: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The inhibitory receptor programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) is upregulated on a variety of immune cells, including natural killer (NK) cells, during chronic viral infection and tumorigenesis. Blockade of PD-1 or its ligands produces durable clinical responses with tolerable side effects in patients with a broad spectrum of cancers. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of how PD-1 regulates NK cell function remain poorly characterized. OBJECTIVE We sought to determine the effect of PD-1 signaling on NK cells. METHODS PD-1 was overexpressed in CD16-KHYG-1 (a human NK cell line with both antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity through CD16 and natural cytotoxicity through NKG2D) cells and stimulated by exposing the cells to NK-sensitive target cells expressing programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1). RESULTS PD-1 engagement by PD-L1 specifically blocked NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity without interfering with the conjugation between NK cells and target cells. Further examination showed that PD-1 signaling blocked lytic granule polarization in NK cells, which was accompanied by failure of integrin-linked kinase, a key molecule in the integrin outside-in signaling pathway, to accumulate in the immunological synapse after NK-target cell conjugation. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that NK cell cytotoxicity is inhibited by PD-1 engagement, which blocks lytic granule polarization to the NK cell immunological synapse with concomitant impairment of integrin outside-in signaling. This study provides novel mechanistic insights into how PD-1 inhibition disrupts NK cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Huang
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, Graduate Program in Cell and Regulatory Biology, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Tex; Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex
| | - Zhiying Chen
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex; Xiangya Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Joon Hee Jang
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex; Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex
| | - Mirza S Baig
- Center for Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering (BSBE), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indore, India
| | - Grant Bertolet
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex
| | - Casey Schroeder
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex
| | - Shengjian Huang
- Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Tex
| | - Qian Hu
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex; Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Cooperative Innovation Center for High Performance Computing, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Cooperative Innovation Center for High Performance Computing, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dorothy E Lewis
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Tex
| | - Lidong Qin
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex
| | - Michael Xi Zhu
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, Graduate Program in Cell and Regulatory Biology, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Tex.
| | - Dongfang Liu
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Tex; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY.
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6
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Matalon O, Ben-Shmuel A, Kivelevitz J, Sabag B, Fried S, Joseph N, Noy E, Biber G, Barda-Saad M. Actin retrograde flow controls natural killer cell response by regulating the conformation state of SHP-1. EMBO J 2018; 37:embj.201696264. [PMID: 29449322 DOI: 10.15252/embj.201696264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2016] [Revised: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are a powerful weapon against viral infections and tumor growth. Although the actin-myosin (actomyosin) cytoskeleton is crucial for a variety of cellular processes, the role of mechanotransduction, the conversion of actomyosin mechanical forces into signaling cascades, was never explored in NK cells. Here, we demonstrate that actomyosin retrograde flow (ARF) controls the immune response of primary human NK cells through a novel interaction between β-actin and the SH2-domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-1 (SHP-1), converting its conformation state, and thereby regulating NK cell cytotoxicity. Our results identify ARF as a master regulator of the NK cell immune response. Since actin dynamics occur in multiple cellular processes, this mechanism might also regulate the activity of SHP-1 in additional cellular systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omri Matalon
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Aviad Ben-Shmuel
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Jessica Kivelevitz
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Batel Sabag
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Sophia Fried
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Noah Joseph
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Elad Noy
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Guy Biber
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Mira Barda-Saad
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
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7
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Bertolet G, Liu D. The Planar Lipid Bilayer System Serves as a Reductionist Approach for Studying NK Cell Immunological Synapses and Their Functions. Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1441:151-65. [PMID: 27177664 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3684-7_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
The immunological synapse (IS) is the junction between an immune cell (e.g., a T or NK cell) and another cell (e.g., an antigen-presenting cell (APC), or a tumor cell). The formation of the IS is crucial for cell-mediated immunity, and as such, an understanding of both the composition of the IS and the factors that drive its formation are essential for understanding how and when NK cells eliminate susceptible target cells. The supported lipid bilayer (SLB) system is a highly effective tool for directly studying the IS. SLBs confer three main advantages: (1) they allow for synapse formation on a level horizontal surface, allowing for direct visualization of the IS under high resolution imaging systems, (2) they mimic the surface of a target cell by providing a fluid mosaic into which surface proteins can be embedded while permitting free motion in two dimensions, which is important for studying the dynamics of synapse formation, and (3) they allow investigators to determine the exact composition of the bilayer, thus in turn allowing them to answer very specific questions about the IS. It is our hope that this chapter will furnish readers with an awareness of the applications of the SLB system for studying the IS in NK cells, and also of a basic knowledge of how to use this system for themselves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant Bertolet
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA
| | - Dongfang Liu
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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8
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NK cell education via nonclassical MHC and non-MHC ligands. Cell Mol Immunol 2016; 14:321-330. [PMID: 27264685 PMCID: PMC5380944 DOI: 10.1038/cmi.2016.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Revised: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cell education, a process for achieving functional maturation and self-tolerance, has been previously defined by the interaction between self-major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules and their specific inhibitory receptors. Over the past several years, growing evidence has highlighted the important roles of nonclassical MHC-I and non-MHC-I molecules in NK cell education. Herein, we review the current knowledge of NK cell education, with a particular focus on nonclassical MHC-I- and non-MHC-I-dependent education, and compare them with the classical MHC-I-dependent education theory. In addition, we update and extend this theory by presenting the 'Confining Model', discussing cis and trans characteristics, reassessing quantity and quality control, and elucidating the redundancy of NK cell education in tumor and virus infection.
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Jang JH, Huang Y, Zheng P, Jo MC, Bertolet G, Zhu MX, Qin L, Liu D. Imaging of Cell-Cell Communication in a Vertical Orientation Reveals High-Resolution Structure of Immunological Synapse and Novel PD-1 Dynamics. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2015; 195:1320-1330. [PMID: 26123352 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1403143/-/dcsupplemental] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/23/2015] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The immunological synapse (IS) is one of the most pivotal communication strategies in immune cells. Understanding the molecular basis of the IS provides critical information regarding how immune cells mount an effective immune response. Fluorescence microscopy provides a fundamental tool to study the IS. However, current imaging techniques for studying the IS cannot sufficiently achieve high resolution in real cell-cell conjugates. In this study, we present a new device that allows for high-resolution imaging of the IS with conventional confocal microscopy in a high-throughput manner. Combining micropits and single-cell trap arrays, we have developed a new microfluidic platform that allows visualization of the IS in vertically "stacked" cells. Using this vertical cell pairing (VCP) system, we investigated the dynamics of the inhibitory synapse mediated by an inhibitory receptor, programed death protein-1, and the cytotoxic synapse at the single-cell level. In addition to the technique innovation, we have demonstrated novel biological findings by this VCP device, including novel distribution of F-actin and cytolytic granules at the IS, programed death protein-1 microclusters at the NK IS, and kinetics of cytotoxicity. We propose that this high-throughput, cost-effective, easy-to-use VCP system, along with conventional imaging techniques, can be used to address a number of significant biological questions in a variety of disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon Hee Jang
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030; Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Yu Huang
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, Graduate Program in Cell and Regulatory Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Peilin Zheng
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Myeong Chan Jo
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Grant Bertolet
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; and
| | - Michael Xi Zhu
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, Graduate Program in Cell and Regulatory Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Lidong Qin
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065
| | - Dongfang Liu
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; and
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10
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Jang JH, Huang Y, Zheng P, Jo MC, Bertolet G, Zhu MX, Qin L, Liu D. Imaging of Cell-Cell Communication in a Vertical Orientation Reveals High-Resolution Structure of Immunological Synapse and Novel PD-1 Dynamics. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 195:1320-30. [PMID: 26123352 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1403143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The immunological synapse (IS) is one of the most pivotal communication strategies in immune cells. Understanding the molecular basis of the IS provides critical information regarding how immune cells mount an effective immune response. Fluorescence microscopy provides a fundamental tool to study the IS. However, current imaging techniques for studying the IS cannot sufficiently achieve high resolution in real cell-cell conjugates. In this study, we present a new device that allows for high-resolution imaging of the IS with conventional confocal microscopy in a high-throughput manner. Combining micropits and single-cell trap arrays, we have developed a new microfluidic platform that allows visualization of the IS in vertically "stacked" cells. Using this vertical cell pairing (VCP) system, we investigated the dynamics of the inhibitory synapse mediated by an inhibitory receptor, programed death protein-1, and the cytotoxic synapse at the single-cell level. In addition to the technique innovation, we have demonstrated novel biological findings by this VCP device, including novel distribution of F-actin and cytolytic granules at the IS, programed death protein-1 microclusters at the NK IS, and kinetics of cytotoxicity. We propose that this high-throughput, cost-effective, easy-to-use VCP system, along with conventional imaging techniques, can be used to address a number of significant biological questions in a variety of disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon Hee Jang
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030; Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Yu Huang
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, Graduate Program in Cell and Regulatory Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Peilin Zheng
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Myeong Chan Jo
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Grant Bertolet
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; and
| | - Michael Xi Zhu
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, Graduate Program in Cell and Regulatory Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Lidong Qin
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065
| | - Dongfang Liu
- Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; and
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11
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Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are effector cells of the innate immune system that can lyse target cells without prior sensitization and have an important role in host defense to pathogens and transformed cells. A balance between negative and positive signals transmitted via germ line-encoded inhibitory and activating receptors controls the function of NK cells. Although the concept of "missing-self" would suggest that NK cells could target foreign allografts, the prevailing dogma has been that NK cells are not active participants in the mechanisms that culminate in the rejection of solid organ allografts. Recent studies, however, challenge this conclusion and instead implicate NK cells in contributing to both graft rejection and tolerance to an allograft. In this review, we highlight recent studies with the goal of understanding the complex NK cell interactions that impact alloimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uzi Hadad
- Division of Abdominal Transplantation, Department of Surgery and Stanford Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
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12
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Krzewski K, Bryceson YT. Molecular mechanisms regulating cytotoxic lymphocyte development and function, and their associations to human diseases. Front Immunol 2014; 5:279. [PMID: 24966858 PMCID: PMC4052198 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Konrad Krzewski
- Receptor Cell Biology Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health , Rockville, MD , USA
| | - Yenan T Bryceson
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge , Stockholm , Sweden
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