Characteristics of the killing mechanism of human natural killer cells against hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HepG2 and Hep3B

Purpose Unlike normal hepatocytes, most hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) are quite resistant to death receptor-mediated apoptosis when the cell surface death receptor is cross linked with either agonistic antibodies or soluble death ligand proteins in vitro. The resistance might play an essential role in the escape from the host immune surveillance; however, it has not been directly demonstrated that HCCs are actually resistant to natural killer (NK) cell-mediated death. Therefore, this study investigated the molecular mechanism of NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity against the HCCs, HepG2, and Hep3B, using two distinct cytotoxic assays: a 4-h ⁵¹Cr-release assay and a 2-h [³H] thymidine release assay which selectively measures the extent of necrotic and apoptotic target cell death, respectively.Methods Most of the target cells exhibited marked morphologic changes when they were co-incubated with the NK cells, and the NK cytotoxicity against these HCCs was comparable to that against K562, a NK-sensitive leukemia cell line, when the cytotoxicity was assessed by a 4-h ⁵¹Cr release assay.Results The NK cells also induced significant apoptotic cell death in the Hep3B targets, but not in the HepG2 targets, when the cytotoxicity was assessed by a 2-h [³H]-thymidine release assay. In agreement with these results, procaspase-3 was activated in the Hep3B targets, but not in the HepG2 targets. Interestingly, mildly fixed NK cells had no detectable activity in the 4-h ⁵¹Cr release assay against both HepG2 and Hep3B targets, while they were similarly effective as the untreated NK cells in the 2-h [³H]-thymidine release assay, suggesting that the level of apoptotic cell death of the Hep3B targets is granule independent and might be primarily mediated by the death ligands of the NK cells.Conclusion This study found that a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)/TRAIL receptor interaction is involved in the NK cell-mediated apoptotic death of the Hep3B targets, but a Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) interaction is not.     

Design of a flow cytometric assay for the determination of natural killer and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity in human and in different animal species

BACKGROUND: The most common assay used to detect natural killer (NK) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activity is the (51)Cr release assay. The numerous disadvantages of this method led us to evaluate cytotoxicity functions by flow cytometry. We described a flow cytometric assay to assess NK and CTL activity from different species. METHODS: This assay is based on a dual fluorescent staining of target cells. The dye, DIOC18((3)) (3, 3'-dioctadecyloxacarbocyanine perchlorate), is used to stain the membrane of different target cells. Propidium iodide (PI) is used to label dead target and effector cells. This labeling allows a clear discrimination between both cell populations. RESULTS: A good correlation was observed between the percentage of target lysis and the effector-to-target cell (E/T) ratios with human and porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as effector cells. The flow cytometric assay was shown to be as sensitive and as reliable as the (51)Cr release performed with human cells. The assay was also applied successfully to measure NK cell activity in other animal species (pig, rabbit, hen, and mouse) and to measure murine CTL activity against the influenza virus. CONCLUSIONS: We provide evidence that the flow cytometric assay using DIOC18((3)) is highly reproducible and is suitable to measure different types of cell cytotoxicity.     

Single-colour flow cytometric assay to determine NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity and viability against non-adherent human tumor cells

A flow cytometry-based cytotoxicity (FCC) assay was developed using a single fluorophore, calcein-acetoxymethyl diacetylester (calcein-AM), to measure NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Non-adherent human K562 and U937 target cells were individually labelled with calcein-AM and co-incubated with effector NK cells to measure calcein loss, and therefore calculate target cell cytotoxicity. This FCC assay also provided a measure of sample viability. Notably, cell viability measured by traditional calcein/7-amino-actinomycin D (7-AAD) double labelling and Trypan Blue methods were comparable to the viability calculated using calcein-loss FCC. This FCC assay may also be used with various effector and target cell types and as a multi-parameter tool to measure viability and immunophenotype cells for tissue engineering purposes.     

Factors determining the ability of cytokine-activated killer cells to lyse human ovarian carcinoma targets

Lysis of human ovarian carcinoma cells by natural killer (NK) cells, interferon-alpha activated NK cells (alpha-NK) and lymphokine-activated killers cells (LAK) was studied using both fresh tumor cells and a cell line (HEY) as targets. A clonogenic assay to measure cell kill was more sensitive than a 4-h 51Cr release assay. Both assays showed that single cells were more effectively lysed than were tumor clumps (spheroids). Freshly isolated tumor cells studied in the 51Cr release assay appeared equally susceptible to lysis by LAK cells whether in the form of clumps or single cells, but NK and alpha-NK effectors appeared much less effective in lysing susceptible target cells when they were in clumps. Tumor cells from some patients showed marked resistance to lysis by NK and alpha-NK cells in fractions enriched for clonogenic cells, even when tested in a single cell-suspension, whereas LAK cells were always cytolytic. These data suggest that intrinsic resistance of ovarian carcinoma to lysis by LAKs is unlikely to explain failure of LAK + IL-2 therapy to eradicate tumor in vivo.     

Measurement of CTL-induced cytotoxicity: The caspase 3 assay

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are critical effector cells of the immune system. Measurement of target cell damage has historically been an important measure of CTL function. CTL kill their target cells predominantly by inducing programmed cell death, or apoptosis. The gold standard for CTL-mediated cytotoxicity has been the ⁵¹Cr release assay. However, measurement of target cell lysis by ⁵¹Cr release does not provide mechanistic information on the fate of target cells, especially at the single cell level. Given the recent advances in our understanding of programmed cell death, newer assays are required which evaluate the status of the apoptotic pathways in target cells. We have developed a flow cytometry-based assay for CTL-mediated cytotoxicity based on specific binding of antibody to activated caspase 3 in target cells. Our assay is convenient and more sensitive than the ⁵¹Cr release assay. The use of this assay should allow mechanistic studies of the intracellular events resulting from CTL attack.     

Monocyte- and natural killer cell-mediated spontaneous cytotoxicity against human noncultured solid tumor cells

Unstimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors exhibited spontaneous cytotoxicity against noncultured solid tumor targets in a 12- to 24-hr 51Cr release or 111In release assay. Both purified monocytes (greater than 99% monocytes) and natural killer (NK)-enriched lymphocytes exhibited comparable levels of spontaneous cytotoxicity against fresh melanoma tumor targets. This cytotoxicity was observed under endotoxin-free conditions. NK-depleted lymphocytes did not lyse the melanoma targets. Culture supernatants of monocytes incubated with the melanoma tumor cells did not exhibit cytotoxic activity against these targets. Purified monocytes lacked NK activity against the K562 targets in a 4-hr 51Cr release assay. Treatment of the monocytes with anti-Leu 1 1b and anti-Leu7 monoclonal antibodies plus complement did not reduce monocyte-mediated lysis of the melanoma targets, demonstrating that contaminating NK cells, if any, were not responsible for the lysis of noncultured melanoma targets by monocytes. In contrast, Leu 1 1b+ NK cells were responsible for the lysis of the melanoma targets by NK-enriched lymphocytes. The addition of recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma), but not lipopolysaccharide, into the 51Cr release assay or pretreatment of monocytes with rIFN-gamma significantly increased their cytotoxicity against noncultured solid tumor cells. Monocytes cultured for 3 days with medium alone lost their cytotoxic activity. The addition of rIFN-gamma from the beginning of these cultures prevented the loss of the cytotoxic activity of monocytes. In summary, both unstimulated monocytes and NK-enriched lymphocytes exhibit comparable levels of spontaneous cytotoxicity against fresh solid tumor targets.     

β1 Integrin triggering affects leukemic cell line sensitivity to natural killer cells

The role of beta1 (CD29) integrins in natural killer (NK) cell-target cell conjugation and cytotoxicity has not been clearly established. Ligation of beta1 integrins in NK cells can modulate the lytic capacity in both a positive and a negative manner; however, the contribution of the beta1 integrins present on target cells remains to be evaluated. Here, we analyzed the effect of beta1 integrins expressed by potential tumor target cells on conjugation and cytotoxicity. Using normalized flow cytometry binding assays, we demonstrated that the pretreatment of MOLT-4, K562, U-937 and HL-60 human leukemia target cell lines with selected anti-beta1 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) increased conjugation to human NK cell line NKL as well as to purified NK cells. Only mAb recognizing residues 207-218 of the beta1 subunit and functionally involved in the induction of homotypic adhesion (functional epitope A1) increased conjugation of all the target cells. Moreover, mAb to adhesion molecules different from beta1 but also inducers of homotypic adhesion of the target cells, i.e. CD43 and CD50 (ICAM-3), failed to increase conjugation to NKL cells. Cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that lysis of NK-sensitive target cells (MOLT-4) also increased after pretreatment with anti-beta1 epitope A1 mAb. Importantly, pretreatment of NK-resistant target cells (U-937 and HL-60) with anti-beta1 mAb was not able to outweigh the cytotoxic inhibitory mechanisms controlled by HLA class I molecules. However, simultaneous masking of HLA class I molecules with mAb and pretreatment with anti-beta1 mAb rendered NK-resistant cells susceptible to lysis, as predicted by the missing self hypothesis. Triggering of tumor target cells through beta1 integrins may thus play a role in conjugation to NK cells as well as in co-stimulation of cell-mediated cytotoxicity.     

Analysis of the mechanisms involved in NK resistance induced by a new tumor factor NK-RIF

The mechanisms involved in susceptibility or resistance of neoplasic cells to lysis by NK cells are not well known. We have recently described a 12-kDa factor (NK-RIF), produced and released by different tumor cell lines, making K562 resistant to NK lysis without affecting the cytotoxic function of NK effector cells. In this paper we further study the mechanism involved in NK resistance of K562 mediated by NK-RIF and its biological implications. The results show that NK-RIF does not affect the binding capacity of target and effector cells nor the levels of HLA class I antigen expression on the target cells, as a proof that resistance to NK-mediated lysis is not always associated with a defect in target effector binding or with an increased MHC class I antigen expression. However NK-RIF-treated K562 loses its capacity to induce NK cell activation and the subsequent capacity to release NKCF and makes K562 resistant to lysis by NKCF. Therefore our results show that induction of resistance to NK cytotoxicity can be the result of the modulation of target structures responsible for inducing effector cell activation without affecting target/effector binding molecules. This indicates that the structures involved in adherence and activation of NK cells have a different nature and that molecules other than HLA participate in NK resistance.     

Long-term killing of natural killer-resistant target cells by interferon-alpha-, interferon-gamma-, and interleukin-2-activated natural killer cells

The sensitivity of target cells to natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity was investigated. Five target cell lines were examined for susceptibility to killing by activated NK cells in a 4-hour cytotoxicity assay: one of them (K562) was highly sensitive, while the other four were resistant. However, the four NK-resistant target cell lines were fully susceptible to lysis when the assay was extended to 24 h. The cytotoxic cells that killed the NK-resistant target cells in a 24-hour assay were plastic- and nylon wool-nonadherent human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and their cytotoxicity was increased by interferon-alpha, interferon-gamma, and interleukin-2. Further, the cytotoxic activity of PBMC in the long-term assay was associated with large granular lymphocytes purified on a Percoll gradient, that killed the NK-sensitive cell line K562 in a 4-hour assay. All of the above are general criteria to qualify the cytotoxic cells as NK cells. Thus, the NK-resistant phenotype may not reflect absolute immunity to NK-mediated lysis, but it may reflect the different rates at which various target cell lines can be killed.     

Effect of altered membrane fluidity on NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. I. Selective inhibition of the recognition or post recognition events in the cytolytic pathway of NK cells

NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity results from membrane interactions between NK effector and target cells. The role of membrane fluidity in these events is not known. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of changes in membrane lipid fluidity of NK effector and NK-sensitive target cells on the lytic pathway of NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Fluidity was modulated by various lipids and measured by fluorescence polarization. NK effector cells treated with phosphatidylcholine complexed with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) showed increased membrane fluidity. This fluidization of the effector cell membrane resulted in a significant inhibition of cytotoxic activity in the 51Cr-release assay. Single cell analysis revealed that the inhibition was due to a decrease in the frequency of NK target conjugates and reduced killing of conjugated targets. Rigidification of the NK effector cell membranes by treatment with cholesteryl hemisuccinate complexed with PVP and BSA also resulted in inhibition of cytotoxicity. This inhibition was post binding, because binding was increased and lysis was abrogated. Fluidization of K562 target cell membranes caused a slight but insignificant increase in their lysis by NK cells without affecting the binding step. On the other hand, rigidification of K562 membranes decreased the sensitivity of these target cells to lysis. Single cell analysis revealed that this inhibition of NK lysis is post binding, because the frequency of killers was significantly decreased. It was also shown that membrane rigidification of target cells that were programmed for lysis during the lethal hit stage and subsequently separated from effector cells, rendered the programmed cells resistant to killing during the killer cell-independent lysis step. These results demonstrate that fluidization or rigidification of the plasma membrane of either effector or target cells affect different stages of the NK cell-mediated cytolytic events.     

Growth factor-initiated proliferation of mouse embryonic fibroblasts induces cytotoxicity by natural killer cells and by a non-cytolysin cytotoxin in natural killer granules

NK cells preferentially kill normal embryonic fibroblasts. Because embryonic cells are growth factor responsive and maintain high proliferative rates, we examined the requirement for growth factor-initiated proliferation for NK susceptibility. Murine embryonic fibroblasts made quiescent in defined medium lacking growth factors were relatively resistant to NK cytolysis. However, reinitiation of proliferation with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or epidermal growth factor enhanced lysis in a dose-dependent fashion. TGF-beta, which blocked cell division, did not enhance cytotoxicity. Additionally, growth inhibition by prolonged incubation at confluence suppressed lysis. The enhanced NK cytotoxicity of bFGF-stimulated fibroblasts was caused by a post-binding event because no difference in cold target inhibition could be demonstrated with bFGF-treated cells. NK cytotoxicity has largely been attributed to the action of cytotoxins released from cytoplasmic granules. In a 51Cr release assay, bFGF-treated fibroblasts were insensitive to NK granules isolated from the RNK large granular lymphocyte leukemia. However, these same cells exhibited marked sensitivity to lysis in an 18-h adhesion assay normally utilized to detect TNF-alpha. With the use of this assay, a dose-dependent increase in sensitivity of bFGF-treated fibroblasts was observed, whereas quiescent fibroblasts were resistant to the action of isolated NK granules. Granule cytotoxicity was not caused by cytolysin/perforin because inactivation of granule hemolytic activity with CaCl2 did not affect fibroblast killing, and bFGF-treated cells were insensitive to purified cytolysin/perforin. This suggested that another granule associated cytotoxin was responsible for enhanced NK sensitivity of actively proliferating fibroblasts.     

Natural killer-sensitive targets stimulate production of TNF-alpha but not TNF-beta (lymphotoxin) by highly purified human peripheral blood large granular lymphocytes

Highly purified populations of large granular lymphocytes (LGL) have been shown to mediate natural killer (NK) cell activity. The mechanism of target cell killing by NK cells is as yet undefined; however, it has been postulated that such killing may involve soluble cytotoxic factors produced and secreted by NK cells. The data presented show that NK-sensitive, but not NK-resistant, tumor cell lines induce highly purified populations of human LGL to produce factors with cytotoxic and/or cytostatic activities. We have identified one of these factors as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and have shown that production of this factor is enhanced by recombinant human interferon-gamma (rHuIFN-gamma). We have also examined the role of TNF-alpha in the cytotoxic function of NK cells. The data show that although highly purified LGL populations produce low levels of TNF-alpha, the cytotoxic/cytostatic activity of this lymphokine on tumor target cells does not correlate with the cytotoxic activity of highly purified populations of LGL on tumor target cells. Furthermore, NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity is not reliably inhibited by antibodies directed against various epitopes of recombinant human TNF-alpha and/or recombinant TNF-beta (lymphotoxin) or rHuIFN-gamma. These data show that although TNF-alpha is produced by highly purified NK-containing LGL cell populations, this factor does not appear to be responsible for NK cell cytotoxicity against classical NK target cells such as Molt-4 or K562. We suggest that NK function can be attributed to a combination of factors rather than to a single factor alone, and that at least two major phenomena are involved in LGL function: the rapid cytotoxic events which lead to the cell lysis measured in classical in vitro NK assays such as against K562; and the release of factors such as TNF-alpha with cytotoxic/cytostatic activities which would inhibit the growth of invading tumor cells in vivo.     

Development of immunomonitoring of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against neuroblastoma cells using whole blood

Neuroblastoma, a childhood tumour of neuroectodermal origin, accounts for 15 % of paediatric cancer deaths, which is often metastatic at diagnosis and despite aggressive therapies, it has poor long-term prognosis with high risk of recurrence. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy targeting GD2, a disialoganglioside expressed on neuroblastoma, has shown promise in recent trials with natural killer cell (NK)-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) thought to be central to efficacy, although other immune effectors may be important. To further enhance therapy, immunomonitoring of patients is essential to elucidate the in vivo mechanisms of action and provides surrogate end points of efficacy for future clinical trials. Our aim was to establish a ‘real-time’ ex vivo whole-blood (WB) immunomonitoring strategy to perform within the logistical constraints such as limited sample volumes, anticoagulant effects, sample stability and shipping time. A fluorescent dye release assay measuring target cell lysis was coupled with flow cytometry to monitor specific effector response. Significant target cell lysis with anti-GD2 antibody (p < 0.05) was abrogated following NK depletion. NK up-regulation of CD107a and CD69 positively correlated with target cell lysis (r > 0.6). The ADCC activity of WB correlated with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (r > 0.95), although WB showed overall greater target cell lysis attributed to the combination of NK-mediated ADCC, CD16+ granulocyte degranulation and complement-dependent cytotoxicity. Response was maintained in heparinised samples stored for 24 h at room temperature, but not 4 °C. Critically, the assay showed good reproducibility (mean % CV < 6.4) and was successfully applied to primary neuroblastoma samples. As such, WB provides a resourceful analysis of multiple mechanisms for efficient end point monitoring to correlate immune modulation with clinical outcome.     

Investigating the lysis of small-cell lung cancer cell lines by activated natural killer (NK) cells with a fluorometric assay for NK-cell-mediated cytotoxicity

Activation of natural killer (NK) cells with interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-12 leads to an enhanced lysis of tumour cells. We investigated the ability of NK cells, with or without prior activation, to lyse a variety of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) target cells. Specific lysis was measured with a fluorometric assay for NK-cell-mediated cytotoxicity: target cells were labelled with 3,3′-dioctadecyloxacarbocyanine, a green membrane dye. After co-incubation with NK cells, dead target cells were stained with propidium iodide, a red DNA dye that only penetrates dead cells. Of all eight SCLC cell lines tested, three were susceptible to lysis by non-activated NK cells, three were only susceptible to lysis by NK cells activated with IL-2 and IL-12 and two were not even susceptible to lysis by activated NK cells. The differences in target cell susceptibility showed no correlation with the expression of MHC-I on the surface of the target cells or with the expression of the adhesion molecules CD50, CD54, CD58 or CD102. Comparing the kinetics of the lysis of one SCLC cell line sensitive to non-activated NK cells and one sensitive only to activated NK cells, we found that maximum lysis of the former was obtained after 1 h, whereas significant lysis of the latter was only obtained after 4 h of incubation. This might be due to different mechanisms engaged in target cell lysis. Received: 23 December 1998 / Accepted: 8 April 1999     

Increased sensitivity to MHC-nonrestricted lysis of BL6 melanoma cells by transfection with class I H-2Kb gene

An H-2Kb- negative clone of BL6 melanoma (BL6-8) was transfected with neor, H-2Kb, or H-2IAk genes. In an 18-h cytotoxicity assay clones with high levels of H-2Kb Ag expression were found more sensitive to lysis by spleen cells of syngenic and allogeneic mice than H-2Kb low clones. NK cells were involved in the lysis of H-2Kb+ BL6 melanoma clones, with spleen cell cytotoxicity of mice increased after poly I:C stimulation or decreased after pretreatment with anti-asialo GM1 serum or NK1.1 mAb. Anti-TNF Ab were also able to reduce the cytotoxicity of normal spleen cells and completely abolished the cytotoxicity of the NK-depleted spleen cells suggesting involvement of NC cells in lysis of H-2Kb+ BL6 melanoma clones. Increase in sensitivity of H-2Kb+ BL6 cells to natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity was associated with the appearance of NK recognizable determinants as assessed by the cold target inhibition assay. All BL6 clones, irrespective of sensitivity to natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity, showed high sensitivity to lysis by LGL-derived granules. In contrast, all H-2Kb low BL6 clones were resistant and all H-2Kb highly positive clones were sensitive to lysis by TNF-alpha. When an H-2Kb highly positive clone was selected in vitro for resistance to TNF, it concomitantly showed increased resistance to cytotoxicity by spleen cells, confirming the importance of TNF in spleen cell cytotoxicity against H-2Kb+ melanoma cells. Taken together, the data indicate that class I H-2Kb but not class II H-2IAk gene product could increase the sensitivity of BL6 cells to lysis by NK and natural cytotoxic cells as well as TNF. We hypothesize that these effects could be due to pleiotropic effects of H-2Kb gene products on various biologic properties of BL6 melanoma cells some of which may be more directly involved in regulation of tumor cell sensitivity to lysis by NK and/or natural cytotoxic cells.     

Studies on the mechanism of natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity. V. Lack of NK specificity at the level of induction of natural killer cytotoxic factors in cultures of human, murine, or rat effector cells stimulated with mycoplasma-free cell lines

We have proposed that lysis of target cells by NK cells is mediated by NK cytotoxic factors (NKCF). According to our model, for a target cell to be NK-sensitive, it must be recognized by the NK cell, it must stimulate the release of NKCF, and it must be sensitive to lysis by these factors. This report examines whether the ability to stimulate release of NKCF is a characteristic restricted to NK-sensitive tumor cells or whether it is also a property of NK-resistant target cells. Many different types of cell lines were tested for their ability to stimulate release of NKCF in the human, rat, and murine systems. It was found that mycoplasma-free NK-sensitive cell lines, resistant cell lines, and Con A could stimulate the release of NKCF. Many different types of cell lines grown in suspension or in monolayers were found to be effective stimulators, including T or B lymphoid, myeloid, and those of histiocytic origin. Cells cultured in the absence of serum stimulated NKCF release, thus ruling out the possible involvement of serum components in stimulation. NKCF was also produced by xenogeneic combinations of effector and stimulator cells, demonstrating lack of species specificity in NKCF production. Factors stimulated by NK-resistant cell lines or by Con A exhibited the same NK target specificity as supernatants stimulated by NK-sensitive tumor cells. The finding that many different NK-resistant cell lines can stimulate the release of NKCF indicates that there is no apparent NK specificity at the level of induction of NKCF release from human, rat, or murine effector cells. Therefore, the NK specificity of a target cell is determined ultimately by its sensitivity to lysis by NKCF.     

Effects of cyclosporin on C57BL/6 splenocytes before and after culture with high-dose recombinant interleukin-2: Implications for immunosuppression with cyclosporin

Summary Lymphokine-activated killer cells appear to arise from precursor cells bearing natural killer (NK) cell antigens. Cyclosporin (CsA) is a well-known immunosuppressive agent that can down-regulate NK cell cytotoxicity. Studies were initiated to evaluate the effects of CsA on splenocytes before and after exposure to recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2). Normal C57BL/6 mice receiving CsA at a dose of 100 mg/kg demonstrated a decrease in NK cell lysis against the YAC-1 lymphoma target in a 4-h chromium-release assay. When splenocytes obtained from CsA-treated mice were cultured for 3 days in complete medium containing 1000 U rIL-2/ml, they demonstrated a return of NK cell lysis to normal (mean cytotoxicity = 65 LU versus 60 LU for control and CsA-exposed splenocytes respectively;P, NS, five consecutive experiments) but revealed a decrease in the lysis of a NK-resistant target: the MCA-102 sarcoma (mean cytotoxicity = 20 LU vs 12 LU for control and CsA-exposed splenocytes respectively;P <0.02, five consecutive experiments). Fresh splenocytes cultured in media containing rIL-2 and CsA demonstrated a decrease in proliferation, cell-cycle S-phase fraction and cell yields compared to splenocytes cultured in media containing rIL-2 alone. In addition, a decrease in tumor cell lysis for NK-cell sensitive (mean percentage lysis = 98% vs 60%, rIL-2 vs rIL-2 + CsA; effector-to-target ratio 100: 1) and resistant targets (mean percentage lysis = 68% vs 28%, rIL-2 vs rIL-2 + CsA; effector-to-target ratio 100: 1) was also seen. CsA had no effects on the phenotypic antigenic expression of splenocytes cultured with high-dose rIL-2 although activated T cell antigens were down-regulated when fresh splenocytes were evaluated after in vivo exposure to CsA. These studies support the down-regulating effects of CsA on NK cell lysis and suggest that the rIL-2-activated cell population is heterogeneous as demonstrated by the differential down-regulation and recovery of NK-resistant cell lysis versus NK-sensitive cell lysis.     

The flow cytometric PKH-26 assay for the determination of T-cell mediated cytotoxic activity

We present a rapid flow cytometric and non-radioactive functional assay developed for the determination of the cytotoxic activity of T lymphocytes, natural killer cells, and lymphokine-activated killer cells. In contrast to indirect evaluation of cytotoxicity using radioactive assays, this assay is based on the quantitative and qualitative flow cytometric analysis of cell damage on a single cell level. Target cells are stained with PKH-26, a lipophilic dye that stably integrates into the cell membrane, without disturbing its surface marker expression. It, thus, permits the distinction between target and effector cells. After short term in vitro incubation (1.5-3h), AnnexinV-FITC (ann-FITC) staining allows to discriminate between apoptotic and non-apoptotic target cells. Data analysis is performed first by gating on PKH-26 positive target cells, followed by the analysis of the ann-FITC positive subpopulation. The percentage of cytotoxicity in the PKH-26 gated cell population is calculated by subtracting unspecific ann-FITC positive target cells, measured in appropriate controls without effector cells. Using in vitro generated antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes, we demonstrate that this flow cytometric assay is sensitive, correlates well with the standard 51Cr release assay, and is easy to handle.     

Role of interferon in natural kill of HSV-1-infected fibroblasts

The production of interferon during natural killer (NK) assays against HSV-1-infected fibroblasts (NK(HSV-1)) was studied to determine whether this interferon was responsible for inducing the preferential lysis of herpes-virus-infected target cells over uninfected target cells. The interferon produced during NK(HSV-1) assays was analyzed and found to have the properties of HU-IFN-alpha. Little or no IFN was produced during NK assays against uninfected fibroblasts (NK(FS)) or K562 (NK(K562)) cells. Although the appearance of interferon in the culture supernatants seemed to parallel the development of cytotoxicity during NK(HSV-1) assays, the levels of cytotoxicity and IFN generated did not correlate, arguing against a strict quantitative dependence of cytotoxicity upon IFN production. NK(K562) and NK(FS) cytotoxicity developed with little or no production of IFN. When IFN-pretreated effector cells were used, there was still a preferential lysis of infected over uninfected target cells. This preferential lysis by IFN-treated effector cells of infected over uninfected targets was seen as early as 2 hr into the assay. Anti-IFN antibodies added to the NK assays, although neutralizing all the IFN produced during the assays, had no effect on NK(FS) or NK(K562) cytotoxic activity and caused a slightly reduction of NK(HSV-1) activity only in one of three experiments. We conclude that although IFN is generated during NK(HSV-1) assays, this IFN cannot solely account for the increased lysis of infected over uninfected cells and that NK(HSV-1) activity is in some other way dependent on the virus infection.     

Human natural killer cells express Na+ channels. A pharmacologic flow cytometric study

Voltage-gated excitability of purified human NK cells was studied by using flow cytometry and the voltage-sensitive dye, oxonol. Highly purified human NK cells (CD16 = 95 +/- 1%) from normal volunteers were prepared by using a negative panning technique. The Na(+)-channel agonists batrachotoxin (BTX) (1 to 4 microM) and veratridine (Ver) (100 to 400 microM) depolarized a population of highly purified human NK cells as determined by flow cytometry. BTX and Ver responses were concentration-, time-, temperature-, and Na(+)-dependent. The Na+ channel antagonist tetrodotoxin (1 microM) blocked BTX and Ver responses. Ver (100 microM) produced significant inhibition of cytotoxicity when purified NK cells were incubated with K562 tumor target cells in a 4-h 51Cr release cytotoxicity assay. The effect was blocked by tetrodotoxin. These results strongly suggest presence of functional Na+ channels in NK cells. Activation of voltage-dependent Na+ channels depolarizes cells and reduces their in vitro cytotoxic function.