Natural killer cell cytotoxicity: role of calmodulin

The phenothiazine derivatives, fluphenazine and trifluoperazine which are known to bind to calmodulin and to inhibit its activity, abrogate the development of both spontaneous and interferon-enhanced cytotoxicity of mouse splenic lymphocytes enriched for NK cell activity. Phenothiazines also inhibit the rapid increase in cyclic GMP levels in interferon-treated splenic lymphocytes. Furthermore, treatment of mouse splenic lymphocytes with electrophoretically pure interferon, alpha/beta caused a marked decrease in the level of calmodulin within 1 to 4 hours. These results provide evidence that calmodulin may play a role in the development of NK cell cytotoxicity and that the effect of interferon on calmodulin may constitute part of the molecular mechanism of interferon action.     

Natural killer cells in human colostrum

The presence of natural killer cells in human colostrum was disclosed with the use of a fluorochrome-labeled monoclonal antibody HNK-1 (Leu-7) that recognizes cells with natural killer and killer activity. Approximately 0.5% of total colostral cells were stained with this reagent. These cells were separated by the fluorescence-activated cell sorter and examined for their morphology by electron microscopy and for their cytotoxic activity against 51Cr-labeled K562 target cells. Two morphological types of natural killer cells were observed in colostrum: the first was represented by large cells with numerous vacuoles but without dense cytoplasmic granules; the second type, which occurred with lower frequency, resembled the large granular lymphocytes associated with natural killer activity in peripheral blood. The HNK-1-positive cells from colostrum displayed low cytotoxic activity against K562 target cells. Incubation of HNK-1-positive cells from peripheral blood with cell-free colostrum resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of the cytotoxic activity. The functional changes were accompanied by morphological alterations which included degranulation and the formation of numerous vacuoles. The variances in the cytotoxic activity of peripheral blood HNK-1-positive cells suspended in different dilutions of colostrum suggest that this fluid contains humoral factors which modify morphology and function depending on their concentrations.     

Natural killer cells in human autoimmune disorders

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that play a critical role in early host defense against viruses. Through their cytolytic capacity and generation of cytokines and chemokines, NK cells modulate the activity of other components of the innate and adaptive immune systems and have been implicated in the initiation or maintenance of autoimmune responses. This review focuses on recent research elucidating a potential immunoregulatory role for NK cells in T-cell and B-cell-mediated autoimmune disorders in humans, with a particular focus on multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematous. A better understanding of the contributions of NK cells to the development of autoimmunity may lead to novel therapeutic targets in these diseases.     

Antibody-dependent lymphocytotoxicity: an analysis of effector cell-target cell interactions.

Antibody-dependent lymphocytotoxicity (ADL) was studied with human peripheral blood lymphocytes as effector cells and P815 mouse mastocytoma cells, sensitized with rabbit IgG antibodies, as target cells. Enzyme-substrate-like kinetics were used to describe ADL inhibition induced by two types of inhibitors. Human IgG, both native and heat-aggregated, proved to be a competitive inhibitor of ADL at the target cell level. Human peripheral blood monocytes inhibited ADL in an apparently irreversible fashion, without appreciable evidence for competition. The data obtained provide strong support for the validity of an enzyme-substrate-like mechanism of ADL. Moreover, our results indicate that in order to measure the lytic capacity properly, cell populations, well defined as to their composition, should be used. In the second part of the study, it was investigated whether the two types of cells capable of lysing sensitized target cells, i.e., null cells and T cells, differed with respect to their affinity for the target cells. Application of enzyme-like kinetics revealed considerable differences in maximal killing rate between the two subsets of K cells. However, the parameter related to the affinity toward the target cells was found to be of the same magnitude for the two types of effector cells.     

Genetic and biochemical characterization of a human surface determinant on somatic cell hybrids: the 4F2 antigen

We have mapped the gene which codes the species-specific determinant defined by monoclonal antibody 4F2 to human chromosome 11. All human chromosomes, except Y, were included in a group of four human-mouse hybrid lines. Hybrids heterogeneous for 4F2 antigen expression were sorted using the fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) to yield populations homogeneous with respect to the presence or absence of this determinant. Isozyme analysis indicated corresponding genetic selection for or against human chromosome 11. This map assignment was confirmed using a hybrid line which contained only human chromosome 11. Immunoprecipitation of the 4F2 determinant from the 11 only hybrid resulted in a heavy subunit of molecular weight (Mr) = 100,000 and a light subunit of Mr = 41,000. This contrasts with results obtained from nonhybrid human cells of different lineages. These results demonstrate the importance of FACS techniques in the rapid mapping of genes which code human cell surface antigens.     

Natural killer activity in cloned cytotoxic T lymphocytes: regulation by interleukin 2, interferon, and specific antigen

It has previously been shown that monoclonal antigen-specific mouse CTL lines can be induced to express cytolytic activity with the same specificity as that of splenic natural killer (NK) cells following culture in high concentrations of concanavalin A-induced spleen cell supernatants. In the present experiments, we made use of this in vitro system to explore the regulation of NK activity at the clonal level. Interferon-alpha and interferon-beta and interleukin 2 (IL 2) were potent inducers of NK activity in CTL, demonstrating that these substances can activate NK functions directly without the participation of other cell types. By comparison, IFN-gamma was a poor activator of NK activity in CTL (and also in fresh spleen cells). Three major differences between induction of NK activity by IFN-alpha,beta and IL 2 were noted: IFN induced NK activity selectively without affecting specific cytolysis, whereas IL 2 also enhanced specific killing; IFN acted much more rapidly than IL 2; and IFN did not induce the cells to enter the cell cycle nor were there any obvious morphologic changes. Specific antigen was also a strong inducer of NK activity in CTL, but studies with antisera against the various classes of IFN revealed that this effect was mediated, at least in part, via the release of IFN-beta. By contrast, the same antisera had no effect on NK induction by crude TCGF or by highly purified IL 2, indicating that the regulation of NK activity by IL 2 occurs at the clonal level in an IFN-independent manner. Although, IL 2, IFN, and Ag could apparently act alone to induce NK activity, much greater (synergistic) induction was obtained by various combinations of these regulators, suggesting that the delivery of two (or more) signals to the responder cell was required for full expression of the NK state. As with fresh splenic NK cells, the induced NK state in cloned CTL was intrinsically labile as revealed by its rapid decay in the absence of inducers, but it could nonetheless be maintained indefinitely at very high levels in the continued presence of inducers. This clonal system thus displays a responsiveness to regulatory signals exactly analogous to that of splenic NK cells and provides a unique and exciting opportunity to evaluate the biochemistry of the regulation of NK activity.     

Primary structure of the human 4F2 antigen heavy chain predicts a transmembrane protein with a cytoplasmic NH2 terminus

The human cell surface antigen 4F2 is a disulfide-linked heterodimer consisting of a glycosylated heavy chain and a nonglycosylated light chain. The antigen is ubiquitously expressed on proliferating cells but only in resting cells from certain tissues. Its function has been proposed to relate to cellular Ca2+/Na+ exchange. We describe the molecular cloning of the 4F2 heavy chain gene and cDNA by a gene transfer approach. Part of the gene was isolated from a genomic lambda library constructed with DNA of a secondary transfectant L cell line that expresses 4F2 antigen. A gene-specific probe derived from the phage inserts was used to isolate two full length cDNA clones. Both cDNA clones directed the expression of 4F2 antigen in transfected mouse L cells. The 4F2 antigen heavy chain gene specifies a 2.1-kilobase mRNA with an open reading frame coding for a 529-residue protein of 58 kDa. The protein lacks an NH2-terminal signal peptide but contains an internal transmembrane-spanning region and four potential glycosylation sites in its COOH-terminal domain. We predict that the 4F2 antigen heavy chain is a transmembrane protein with a cytoplasmic NH2 terminus of 81 amino acids. The antigen shows no homology to known protein sequences.     

The natural killer system in the human fetus

Natural cytotoxic activity of cells from human fetal spleen, liver, bone marrow, appendix, tonsilar glands and thymus was investigated in 14-26-week-old embryos. The spleen and liver expressed powerful NK activity against K-562 target cells from a 22 week-old embryo. Thymocytes and cells from the appendix and tonsilar glands displayed but negligible cytotoxic activity.     

Natural killer cell exhaustion in SARS-CoV-2 infection

At the end of 2019, an outbreak of a severe respiratory disease occurred in Wuhan China, and an increase in cases of unknown pneumonia was alerted. In January 2020, a new coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2 was identified as the cause. The virus spreads primarily through the respiratory tract, and lymphopenia and cytokine storms have been observed in severely ill patients. This suggests the existence of an immune dysregulation as an accompanying event during a serious illness caused by this virus. Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune responders, critical for virus shedding and immunomodulation. Despite its importance in viral infections, the contribution of NK cells in the fight against SARS-CoV-2 has yet to be deciphered. Different studies in patients with COVID-19 suggest a significant reduction in the number and function of NK cells due to their exhaustion. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of how NK cells respond to SARS-CoV-2 infection.     

Participation of the CD27 antigen in the regulation of IL-2-activated human natural killer cells.

The CD27 Ag is expressed by the majority of resting T lymphocytes and appears to play a crucial role in T cell activation. We found that some resting peripheral blood NK cells also express CD27. Furthermore, CD27 expression was up-regulated on NK cells stimulated by IL-2. The cytolytic activity of IL-2-activated, but not resting, NK cells was inhibited by an anti-CD27 mAb (anti-1A4). However, anti-1A4 did not affect conjugate formation between IL-2-activated NK cells and tumor cell targets. In contrast, anti-1A4 inhibited CD2-mediated calcium mobilization and the serine esterase activity of NK cell granules. These inhibitory effects could be mediated in part by increase in intracellular cAMP levels induced by anti-1A4. Our results suggest that the CD27 Ag plays an important role in the regulation of activated NK cells.     

The role of IL-4 in proliferation and differentiation of human natural killer cells. Study of an IL-4-dependent versus an IL-2-dependent natural killer cell clone

The role of IL-4 in proliferation and differentiation of human NK cells was studied using newly established sublines of an IL-4-dependent NK cell clone (IL4d-NK cells) and an IL-2-dependent NK cell clone (IL2d-NK cells) derived from a parental conditioned medium-dependent NK cell clone (CM-NK cells). IL-4 induced the higher proliferation of CM-NK cells, but abolished their NK activity and decreased CD16 and CD56 Ag expression. In contrast, IL-2 induced the higher NK activity and increased CD16 and CD56 Ag expression. Addition of anti-IL-4 antibody to the culture of CM-NK cells with CM inhibited the proliferation, but slightly increased NK activity, and largely increased CD56 Ag expression. Addition of anti-IL-2 antibody to the culture of CM-NK cells with CM inhibited both proliferation and cytotoxicity. Proliferation of IL4d-NK cells, which is totally dependent on rIL-4, is greater than that of IL2d-NK cells, which was greater than parental CM-NK cells. Morphologically, IL4d-NK cells are small and round, whereas IL2d-NK cells are large and elongated. Anti-IL-4 antibody inhibited proliferation of IL4d-NK but not IL2d-NK cells, whereas anti-IL-2 antibody inhibited that of IL2d-NK but not IL4d-NK cells. IL-2 was not detected in the supernatant from IL4d-NK cells, nor was IL-2-mRNA expressed in IL4d-NK cells. In contrast, IFN-gamma production and protein expression in IL4d- and IL2d-NK cells were detected. NK cell activation markers (CD16 and CD56) were expressed on IL2d-NK cells but not IL4d-NK cells. IL4d-NK cells were not cytotoxic to any tumor cells tested, whereas IL2d-NK cells displayed potent NK activity and lymphokine-activated killer activity. IL4d-NK cells failed to bind K562 tumor cells, whereas one-third of the IL2d-NK cells did. IL4d-NK cells responded to rIL-2, proliferated, and differentiated into cytotoxic NK cells, whereas IL2d-NK cells failed to respond to rIL-4 and died. These results raise a possibility that IL4d-NK cells or IL2d-NK cells primarily represent the immunologic properties of immature or activated types of human NK cells, respectively. Our results provide the first evidence of the capability of IL-4 to support continuous proliferation of a lymphocyte clone with immature NK cell characteristics and to stimulate IFN-gamma production in the clone. IL-4 is suggested as a potential growth factor for certain types of human NK cell progenitors.     

Natural killer cell-dependent mycobacteriostatic and mycobactericidal activity in human macrophages

Host defense mechanisms against Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) are poorly understood. Recent evidence suggests the role of NK cells in the host defense against some intracellular pathogens. We investigated whether NK cells play a role in MAC infection. IL-2-activated human NK cells were incubated with human monocyte-derived macrophages either before or after infection with MAC. Macrophages were lysed 3 and 5 days after infection for quantitation of viable intracellular organisms. Although no killing was observed by nonstimulated macrophages, exposure to IL-2-treated NK cells for 24 h before infection induced macrophage to kill 70 +/- 8% of intracellular MAC by 3 days, and 81% +/- 4% in 5 days (p less than 0.01 for both compared with control). Killing was not blocked by incubation with anti-TNF antibody (Ab) or anti-IFN-gamma Ab. Similarly, incubation of macrophages for 24 h with supernatant obtained from IL-2 activated NK cells was associated with 74 +/- 4% killing of intracellular MAC in 3 days and 81 +/- 6% in 5 days (p less than 0.01 for both compared with control). However, the supernatant-mediated activation was partially blocked by anti-TNF Ab (46 +/- 6%; p less than 0.05) but not by anti-IFN gamma Ab. When infected macrophages were incubated with NK cells 24 h after infection for 48 h, they killed 54 +/- 3% of intracellular M. avium in 3 days and 73 +/- 5% in 5 days (p less than 0.02 for both compared with control). This effect was also not blocked by either anti-TNF or anti-IFN gamma Ab. These results suggest that activated NK cells may have an important role in the intracellular killing of MAC and that the NK-mediated activation of macrophages is in part mediated by TNF.     

Analysis of the expression of the 4F2 surface antigen in normal and neoplastic fibroblastic human cells of embryonic and adult origin

4F2 monoclonal antibody recognizes a 120-kD glycoprotein on the surface of human spread fibroblastic cells of embryonic and neoplastic origin, but it does not bind to normal spread adult fibroblasts. Flow cytometric analysis reveals that human adult fibroblasts become 4F2-positive when they are analyzed as round-shaped cells; this means that, in normal adult cells, 4F2 antigen behaves as a cryptic molecule. Thus, the basic difference between embryonic, neoplastic and normal adult cells consists in a different organization in the architecture of the cell membrane, since in embryonic and neoplastic cells there is a continuous expression of the 4F2 antigen independently of the cell shape and cell cycle phase. Quantitative flow cytometry shows that the mean surface density (MSD) of the 4F2 antigen 1, does not vary as a function of the cell cycle; 2, is inversely related to cell size and "metabolic time". This suggests that at the plateau phase the surface organization of G1 resting cells changes as a function of the number of days spent in culture; and 3, sarcoma and SV40-transformed cells show significantly increased MSD levels of the 4F2 antigen in comparison with normal cells of similar size. Electrophoretic analysis under reducing conditions confirms the quantitative differences in the expression of the 4F2 antigen described with the cell sorter. It also reveals, in a way different from that previously found with lymphoid cells, the coexistence of two molecules (85 and 73 kD) in the heavy chain regions. The 73 kD is, however, much more strongly expressed in the fibrosarcoma than in the embryonic cells. Finally, it shows that 4F2 antigen is a very useful tool for studying the organization and the structure of the cell membrane of human fibroblasts and can provide new insights to understand better the developmental and transformation processes.     

Natural killer and lymphokine-activated killer cell activities from human marrow precursors. II. The effects of IL-3 and IL-4

Both IL-3 and IL-4 have multi-CSF activity on early marrow progenitors. We have examined the effect of IL-3 and IL-4 on the differentiation of NK cells from their marrow-derived precursors and have further examined the interactions of these cytokines with IL-2 and IL-1. We tested marrow which had been depleted of mature cells and of E rosette-positive cells (including NK cells) by treatment with soybean lectin and SRBC (SBA-E-BM). The cytolytic activities of the SBA-E-BM samples were tested in 51Cr-release assays after 7 days of liquid culture. K562 targets were used as a measure of NK activity and NK-resistant Daudi targets were used to measure lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity. Neither NK nor LAK activity was detectable in marrow cultured in medium without cytokines, or in medium containing IL-3, or IL-4 alone. Both of these cytokines were shown to be inhibitory to the IL-2-induced generation of NK and LAK activity from SBA-E-BM at concentrations as low as 1 U/ml. The inhibitory activity of both IL-3 and IL-4 was found to occur early in the marrow cultures, with little or no inhibitory effects seen if added 48 h after IL-2. IL-3 appeared to be specifically inhibitory to NK cell precursors since addition of IL-3 to cultures of PBMC did not inhibit IL-2-induced lytic activities. In contrast, IL-4 was equally inhibitory to the activation of marrow and peripheral blood NK cells by IL-2. Mixing experiments demonstrated that the reduced lytic activity in IL-3 or IL-4 containing marrow cultures were not due to suppression of the NK effectors, nor could marrow cultured in IL-3 or IL-4 serve as targets for IL-2-activated NK cells. Phenotype analysis of the lymphoid cells in marrow cultures containing IL-2 combined with IL-3 or IL-4 revealed fewer cells expressing Leu-11 (CD16), or Leu-19 (CD56) and fewer CD16, CD56 coexpressing cells compared with marrow cultured in medium containing IL-2 alone. The inhibitory activity of IL-4, but not IL-3, could be partially reversed if IL-1 was added to the cultures, suggesting that IL-1 and IL-4 have opposing activities on NK cells responsiveness to IL-2. These interactions between cytokines might be important in the regulation of NK cell differentiation and on the functional activity of mature NK cells.     

Characterization of an antigen expressed by human natural killer cells

A monoclonal antibody, anti-N901, was produced by fusing NS-1 myeloma cells with spleen cells of a mouse immunized with human CML cells. This antibody was reactive with a subpopulation of peripheral blood LGL, including the natural killer cells. Monocytes, granulocytes, B cells, T cells (T3+ cells), erythrocytes, and platelets were nonreactive. The N901-positive cells in the peripheral blood were heterogeneous with respect to expression of other cell surface antigens. The majority of N901+ cells co-expressed T11, Mo1, and HNK-1, whereas a smaller percentage expressed T8. Ia, T3, T4, Mo2, or B1 antigens were very uncommon on N901+ cells. The heterogeneity of the N901+ LGL was further investigated by examining the expression of N901 antigen on a series of cloned normal human NK cell lines. N901 antigen was expressed by each of the NK cell lines tested, and by a minority of cloned T cell lines without NK activity. Anti-N901 does not block NK activity and can be used to rapidly purify functional NK cells for further study.     

Natural killer cell activity correlates with the amount of beta 2-microglobulin on human peripheral blood lymphocytes

Two cytotoxic assays, lectin-dependent cytotoxicity and natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity, were used to assess the competence of cord blood and neonatal peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and T-cell cytotoxic reactions. The effect of exogenous interferon was also studied. Results were compared with cytotoxic capabilities of adult cells and cells from patients with primary immunodeficiency syndromes. Lectin-dependent cytotoxicity (LDCC), a property of both T and non-T cells, was assessed by lysis of chromium-labeled EL4 tumor target cells in the presence or absence of exogenous fibroblast interferon (IFN-β). Natural killer cytotoxicity was assessed by lysis of two different chromium-labeled tumor target cells, Molt 4f and K562 in the presence or absence of IFN-β. Lectin-dependent cytotoxicity (LDCC) of PBMC of cord blood (32 ± 4% SEM) and adult cells (36 ± 2% SEM) were equivalent but neonatal cells had slightly decreased LDCC (22 ± 3% lysis). T-depleted cells from cord or neonatal blood had increased LDCC but T-enriched (>95% sheep erythrocyte rosette-forming cells) from both cord (22 ± 3%) and neonatal blood (18 ± 5%) had significantly reduced LDCC compared to 55 ± 2% for adult T cells. This deficiency corrects with age and is near normal after age 2. Preincubation with IFN-β did not enhance LDCC of newborn or adult cells. The LDCC of some cord T cells was markedly reduced and was in the same low range as patients with severe combined immunodeficiency. Natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity of PBMC from cord and adult cells was equivalent at three effector:target ratios against the Molt 4f target but against the K562 target, cord PBMC had significantly less NK activity (22 ± 11 SD) compared to adult NK activity (50.5 ± 22.2 SD) at a 50:1 effector:target ratio. Similar differences were noted at 25:1 and 10:1 target:effector ratios. NK cytotoxicity against Molt 4f targets of adult cells was significantly enhanced by preincubation with IFN-β but NK of cord cells was only variably enhanced. By contrast, IFN-β enhanced NK against K562 targets of both adult and cord cells, adult greater (67.7 ± 20) than cord cells (37.8 ± 2.0). These T-cell effector deficiencies are in marked contrast to the vigorous proliferative responses of newborn T cells, and parallel deficiencies of certain neonatal lymphokines. These defects may explain the newborns' enhanced susceptibility to intracellular viruses and to congenital viral infections.