Natural killer T cells are innate-like and tissue-resident lymphocytes, which recognize lipid antigens and are enriched in the liver. Natural killer T cells play important roles in infections, tumors, autoimmune diseases, and metabolic diseases. In this study, we summarize recent findings on biology of natural killer T cells and their roles in hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection, autoimmune liver diseases, alcoholic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Controversial results from previous studies are discussed, and indicate the dynamic alteration in the role of natural killer T cells during the progression of liver diseases, which might be caused by changes in natural killer T subsets, factors skewing cytokine responses, and intercellular crosstalk between natural killer T cells and CD1d-expressing cells or bystander cells.
Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases ; immunology ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Diseases ; immunology ; Natural Killer T-Cells ; immunology

The activity of the NK cells in patients with preeclampsia was studied to investigate the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. By using MTT and 51Cr releasing technique, the proliferation and killing ability of the NK cells in maternal and umbilical blood from preeclampsia patients (n = 18) and normal third trimester pregnant women (n = 18) were detected. The NK-92 cell line was as the positive control. The results showed that the NK cell counts of umbilical blood in preeclampsia patients and normal third trimester pregnant women were significantly greater than those of maternal blood (both P<0.05). Compared with that in normal third trimester pregnant women, the proliferative ability of the NK cells in preeclampsia patients was apparently increased (P<0.05). Compared with that in maternal blood, the proliferative ability of the NK cells in umbilical blood from both preeclampsia patients and normal third trimester pregnant women was dramatically increased. The killing ability of the NK cells in preeclampsia patients was significantly higher than that in normal third trimester pregnant women (P <0.05). It was suggested that both number and function of the NK cells in preeclampsia women were increased, and that in umbilical blood was greater than that in maternal blood, speculating that the function of the NK cells may affect the maintenance of the maternal and fetal immune tolerance during pregnancy.
Cytotoxicity, Immunologic/*immunology ; Fetal Blood/cytology ; Immune Tolerance ; Killer Cells, Natural/*immunology ; Killer Cells, Natural/pathology ; Pre-Eclampsia/blood ; Pre-Eclampsia/*immunology ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third

Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; immunology ; pathology ; Nose Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology

Natural killer cells (NKs) have a great potential for cancer immunotherapy because they can rapidly and directly kill transformed cells in the absence of antigen presensitization. Various cellular sources, including peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), stem cells, and NK cell lines, have been used for producing NK cells. In particular, NK cells that expanded from allogeneic PBMCs exhibit better efficacy than those that did not. However, considering the safety, activities, and reliability of the cell products, researchers must develop an optimal protocol for producing NK cells from PBMCs in the manufacture setting and clinical therapeutic regimen. In this review, the challenges on NK cell-based therapeutic approaches and clinical outcomes are discussed.
Humans ; Immunotherapy ; methods ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Adult ; Humans ; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Job Syndrome ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Killer Cells, Natural ; pathology ; Male ; Young Adult

T cell immunity and phagocytic activity were studied in the blood of patients with IgA nephropathy in order to clarify their roles in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy. The percentages of total T lymphocytes, helper T cell and suppressor T cells were significantly reduced in patients. A significantly elevated helper T cell/suppressor T cell ratio in patients showed a predominant reduction in suppressor T cells. There was a significant relationship between histologic findings and helper T cell/suppressor T cell ratio in patients. Natural Killer (NK) cell activity was significantly reduced but the lymphocyte response after phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation was not in patients. ConA-induced suppressor cell activity was not depressed despite of a decrease in suppressor T cells in patients. Phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) ingesting yeasts was significantly reduced in patients. Also an inverse correlation was found between serum IgA levels and phagocytic activity of PMN. It is concluded that suppressor T cell defects, depressed phagocytic activity and impaired NK cell activity may play a role in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy.
B-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA/*immunology/pathology ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural/immunology ; Neutrophils/immunology ; *Phagocytosis ; T-Lymphocytes/*immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology

OBJECTIVETo identify the clinical and pathological features of natural killer-like T-cell lymphoma/leukemia.

METHODSThe characteristics of natural killer-like T-cell lymphoma/leukemia was discussed with report a new case and review of literatures.

RESULTSA 16-year-old girl was referred to our hospital because of fever and disseminated cutaneous herpes and ulcer. Atypical lymphoid cells surrounded the dermal vessels with a CD3(+), CD8(+), CD4(-), CD5(-), CD10(-), CD19(-), CD57(-), CD56(+), perforin(+), granzyme B(+) immunophenotype and rearranged T-cell receptor-gamma gene implicated natural killer-like T cell origin. She was treated with prednisone and for several months. Then the patient developed progressive spleen enlargement with overt leukemia, which led to her eventual death.

CONCLUSIONSNatural killer-like T-cell lymphoma/leukemia is a rare disease with distinctive clinical, histopathologic, and immuno phenotypic characteristics. Current treatment modalities are ineffective for most of the patients.

Adolescent ; CD56 Antigen ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; pathology ; Leukemia, T-Cell ; immunology ; pathology ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; immunology ; pathology

Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Granzymes ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Multivariate Analysis ; S100 Proteins ; analysis ; Serine Endopeptidases ; analysis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the status of cell differentiation in nasal NK/T cell lymphomas.

METHODSThe clinical data of 88 cases of NK/T cell lymphomas were collected. Antibodies to the following antigens were used in the immunohistochemical study: T cell differentiation antigens (CD3epsilon, CD5 and CD1a); NK cell associated antigens (CD56, CD57) and antibodies of CD34 and CD38.

RESULTS(1) Clinicopathology: clinically, frequently involved sites were the nasal cavity and the pharynx. Ulceration and erosion of the mucosa were common signs. Pathologically, diffuse infiltration of the tumor cells was observed in 68 of 88 (70.45%) cases of nasal NK/T cell lymphomas. In 71 (80.68%) cases infiltrated cells were predominantly medium to large sized; (2) Differentiation status of tumor cells: the tumor cells expressed CD3epsilon in 78/88 (88.64%); CD5 in 56/88 (63.63%), CD56 in 25/88 (28.41%) and no positivity for CD1a, CD57, CD34 and CD38.

CONCLUSIONStatus of tumor cell differentiation in nasal NK/T cell lymphoma may have passed the stage of progenitor cell differentiation but not yet to the stage of mature T or NK cells.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cell Differentiation ; Female ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; pathology ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nose Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology

AIMTo investigate effect of cerebellar fastigial nuclei (FN), one of three deep nuclei in cerebellum, on lymphocyte function, and possible central pathway involved in the effect.

METHODSKainic acid (KA) was microinjected into bilateral FN of rats. On the eighth day after the surgery, lymphocytes from the mesenteric lymph nodes were incubated to measure their proliferative reaction to concanavalin A (Con A) by means of colorimetric assay of methyl thiazole tetrazolium (MTT), and natural killer (NK) cells from the spleen were cultured to evaluate their cytotoxicity to YAC-1 cells with the aid of flow cytometric assay. Simultaneously, glutamate content in the hypothalamus was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). As control, 0.9% saline was microinjected into the bilateral FN of rats. When these experiments ended, cerebellar sections and Nissl stain for each rat were made to observe the location and extent of the lesions. If the lesion areas were not in the bilateral FN or not limited in the FN, the results were discarded.

RESULTSOn day 8 following the KA injection of FN, the Nissl-stained cerebellar sections showed the neuronal bodies in the FN were effectively damaged by KA. Simultaneously, the lymphocyte proliferation induced by Con A was significantly increased and the NK cell cytotoxicity to YAC-1 target cells was remarkably enhanced when compared with those of the control animals microinjected with saline in their bilateral FN. At the same time as these changes of lymphocyte functions occurred, glutamate content in the hypothalamus was markedly reduced relative to that in the control hypothalamus.

CONCLUSIONEffective lesions of cerebellar bilateral FN of rats can cause an enhancement of lymphocyte functions, including increase of proliferation of T cells and cytotoxicity of NK cells. The cerebello hypothalamic glutamatergic projections may be involved in the pathway of cerebellar FN immunomodulation.

Animals ; Cerebellar Nuclei ; immunology ; pathology ; Female ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology