Liver Diseases ; Natural Killer T-Cells

The pathogenesis of vitiligo is still unresolved. The three classically held theories are the immune hypothesis, neural hypothesis, and self destruct hypothesis. Recently the immunologic hypothesis is the most important. We analysed natural killer cell activities of 30 cases of vitiligo by Cr release assay, also analysed T cells and T cell subsets of 7 cases of vitiligo in peripheral blood by monoclonal antibody. The result were as follows l. A statistically significant increase of natural killer cell activity was observed in patients with vitiligo(67.5+/-19.2%) in comparison with control subjects(54.7+/-14.7%) 2. 5lo significant difference of natural killer cell activity was observed in patients whose onset of disease was less than 1 year(66.2+/-19.6%) in comparison with more than 1 year(72.0+/-18.4%) 3. No significant difference of natural killer cell activity was observed in patients with vitiligo between generalized(68.3+/-20.6) and localized type(70.3+/-18.0%). 4. The mean value of T cell, T cell subsets(T3, T4, TS) in patients with vitiligo(78. 8+/-10.8, 42.4+/-6.1, 26.46.8%) showed no significant difference in comparison with control subjects(75.3+/-6.3, 43.5+/-8.7, 26.1+/-6.69).
Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural* ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets* ; T-Lymphocytes* ; Vitiligo*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout* ; Natural Killer T-Cells* ; Thymus Gland*

Recently, many investigators demonstrate that immunologic mechanisms seem to play an important role in the pathogenesis of Behcet's disease. The present study was undertaken to see the possible roles of NK cell activity in the pathogenesis of Behcet's disease and relationship among NK cell and T-cell and T-subsets. Authors evaluated NK cell activities in 14 patients and T cell, t-subsets in 7 patients. The results were as follows ; 1. The mean value of NK cell activities showed no statistically significant difference between patients group(57.1+/-15.8) and normal healthy control group(56.1+/-16.2). 2. The mean value of T cell(T), T-subsets(T,T)in 7 patients group 74.4+/-9.8, 41. 6+/-8.0, 24.4+/-10.1 showed no statistically significance compared with the mean value of normal healthy control group 67.5+/-4.3, 39.7+/-5.6,26.3+/-6.0 respectively. 3. The mean value of NK cell activities showed no statistically significant difference between 7 complete type patients' group(49.6+13.1) and 7 incomplete type patients' group(64.4+15.6)
Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural* ; Research Personnel ; T-Lymphocytes

NKT cells (nature killer T cells), as a regulatory cellular compartment in the immune system, express cell surface markers of T cells and NK cells. It secretes a variety of cytokines that stimulate specific antigens. Through regulating the balance of Th1/Th2, the NKT cells play an important role in prevention and treatment of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Its antitumor and anti-infectious effects serve as a basis of its application in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. A better understanding of the biological and immunological features of NKT cell, as well as its specific immune regulatory mechanisms, will further justify the rationales of using NKT cells in the management of GVHD for patients. In this review, the biologic properties, classification, differentiation and development, immune activation of NKT cells as well as the NKT cells and GVHD including the related mechanisms of prevention and treatment of GVHD with NKT cells, NKT cells and tumors, NKT cells and infection, and NKT cells and clinical GVHD are summarized.
Animals ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Humans ; Natural Killer T-Cells

OBJECTIVETo investigate the quantitative and qualitative changes of TCRVα24(+)Vβ11(+) natural killer T (NKT) cells from bone marrow (BM) of aplastic anemia (AA) after in vitro stimulation of α-galactosylceramide (α-Galcer).

METHODSNKT cells in the bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) from either AA patients or healthy controls were enumerated with flow cytometry. BMMNCs were cultured in RPMI1640 medium supplemented with either α-Galcer and rhIL-2 or α-Galcer, rhIL-2 and rhG-CSF. The proliferative capacity of NKT cells was determined by NKT cell numbers before and after in vitro culture. Expression of intracellular IFNγ and IL-4 in activated NKT cells was analyzed with flow cytometry.

RESULTSIn AA group, the percentage of NKT cells in BMMNCs was (0.19 ± 0.09)%. Addition of rhG-CSF into the α-Galcer/rhIL-2 culture medium resulted in significantly reduced expansion of NKT cells (67.45 ± 29.42-fold vs 79.91 ± 40.56 fold, P < 0.05). Meanwhile, addition of rhG-CSF reduced IFNγ positive NKT cells \[(37.45 ± 7.89)% vs (62.31 ± 14.67)%, P < 0.01\] and increased IL-4 positive NKT cells \[(55.11 ± 12.13)% vs (27.03 ± 9.88)%, P < 0.01\]. In healthy control group, the percentage of NKT cells in BMMNCs was (0.25 ± 0.12)%. Addition of rhG-CSF into the α-Galcer/rhIL-2 culture medium also significantly reduced expansion of NKT cells (97.91 ± 53.22-fold vs 119.58 ± 60.49-fold, P < 0.05), reduced IFNγ positive NKT cells \[(28.65 ± 10.63)% vs (50.87 ± 12.66)%, P < 0.01\], and increased IL-4 positive NKT cells \[(66.53 ± 14.96)% vs (31.11 ± 10.07)%, P < 0.01\].

CONCLUSIONCompared to those from healthy controls, BMMNCs from AA patiants have a reduced fraction of NKT cells, which possesses a decreased potential to expand in vitro in response to α-Galcer stimulation, and produce more IFNγ(+) NKT1 cells. rhG-CSF, in combination with α-Galcer, confers polarization of NKT cells towards IL-4(+) NKT2 subpopulation.

Anemia, Aplastic ; metabolism ; Bone Marrow ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Killer Cells, Natural ; cytology ; Natural Killer T-Cells

PURPOSE: To determine the phenotypic and functional changes of circulating CD56+ T cells in ocular Behcet's disease (BD) according to the intraocular inflammatory activity METHODS: Forty patients with BD were divided into two groups according to the inflammatory activity (active; 20, inactive; 20). Twenty patients with acute anterior uveitis and 20 healthy subjects were used as controls. Populations of T lymphocytes subsets in the peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometric analysis, using monoclonal antibodies for CD3, CD4, CD8, CD56, pan alpha beta TCR, pan gamma delta TCR, and V alpha24. The frequencies of intracellular cytokine (IFN-gamma and IL-4) were measured in circulating T cells. RESULTS: CD56 expression was significantly upregulated on CD3+ T cells in active BD compared with those of inactive BD which showed similar data as acute anterior uveitis and healthy subjects (p<0.05). This upregulated expression of CD56 was prominent in CD8(high) T and gamma delta T subsets. The frequencies of IFN-gamma production on circulating T cells were increased in active BD while the frequencies of IL-4 producing cells were decreased, and these trends were prominent in the subsets of CD56+ T cells. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating T cells with CD56 expression are phenotypically and functionally upregulated according to the inflammatory activity of BD. This suggests that CD56+ T cells may play a pathogenic role in maintenance of ocular inflammation in BD.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-4 ; Natural Killer T-Cells* ; T-Lymphocytes ; Uveitis* ; Uveitis, Anterior

CD1d expressing dendritic cells (DCs) are good glyco-lipid antigen presenting cells for NKT cells. However, resting B cells are very weak stimulators for NKT cells. Although alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) loaded B cells can activate NKT cells, it is not well defined whether B cells interfere NKT cell stimulating activity of DCs. Unexpectedly, we found in this study that B cells can promote Th1-skewed NKT cell response, which means a increased level of IFN-gamma by NKT cells, concomitant with a decreased level of IL-4, in the circumstance of co-culture of DCs and B Cells. Remarkably, the response promoted by B cells was dependent on CD1d expression of B cells.
Antigen-Presenting Cells ; B-Lymphocytes* ; Coculture Techniques ; Dendritic Cells ; Galactosylceramides ; Interleukin-4 ; Natural Killer T-Cells*

This study was aimed to explore the effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) on proliferation and activity of natural killer (NK) and NK-T cells. MSC was co-cultured with peripheral mononuclear cells from healthy donors in presence of IL-2, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and mouse anti-human CD3 McAb (culture condition known to expand NK cells). The ratio of NK cells and NK-T cells was measured by flow cytometry and the effect of MSC on killing activity of NK cells against K562 cells was detected by MTT method after co-cultured with different densities of MSC. The results showed that MSC inhibited the production of NK cells in a dose-dependent manner generally. At the densities of 0, 1 × 10(5) and 5 × 10(5)/ml, the ratios of NK cells in the co-culture conditions were (16.9 ± 4.6), (14.0 ± 8.6) and (6.4 ± 4.6), respectively (P < 0.05). However, MSC could promote the formation of NK cells at lower MSC density (1 × 10(4)/ml), the ratio of NK cells reached to (20.9 ± 7.1), which was higher than that of culture condition without MSC (P < 0.05). The different densities of MSC in the co-culture conditions had no much influence on the ratio of NK-T cells (P > 0.05). MTT assay showed that the killing activity of suspended cells in co-culture system against K562 cells was parallel with the ratio of NK cells. Different densities of MSC regulated bidirectionally killing activity of NK to K562 cells by regulating bidirectionally ratio of NK cells. It is concluded that the MSC can promote the formation of NK cells and enhance its activity against tumor cells in the lower doses, while suppress the formation of NK cells and attenuate its tumor-killing effect in higher dose condition.
Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Proliferation ; Coculture Techniques ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Killer Cells, Natural ; cytology ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Natural Killer T-Cells ; cytology

Asthma is a complex and heterogeneous disease with several phenotypes. Most studies have focused on allergic asthma associated with allergen sensitization and adaptive immunity. On the other hand, nonallergic asthma is associated with a number of environmental factors such as infection, air pollution, or obesity, and requires innate immunity rather than adaptive immunity. In the lung, a number of innate immune cells and mechanisms have evolved to lead lung inflammation and asthma. These innate mechanisms include innate cytokines and various innate cells, including innate lymphoid cells, natural killer cells, as well as gammadelta T cells, which together produce a wide range of cytokines, independent of adaptive immunity and conventional antigens. Here, we review the most recent works regarding innate immune cells and the mechanisms underlying their role in asthma.
Adaptive Immunity ; Air Pollution ; Asthma* ; Cytokines ; Hand ; Immunity, Innate* ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Lung ; Lymphocytes ; Natural Killer T-Cells ; Obesity ; Phenotype ; Pneumonia ; T-Lymphocytes