CD69 and CXCR6 Identify a Distinct Population of Human Bone Marrow and Spleen Resident NK Cells

Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 1018-1018
Author(s):  
Gertjan Lugthart ◽  
Carly Vervat ◽  
Janine E Melsen ◽  
Monique M Van Ostaijen-ten Dam ◽  
Dave L Roelen ◽  
...  

Abstract In recent years, evidence has been provided that natural killer (NK) cells can function as anti-leukemic effector cells. In humans, two NK cell populations are usually distinguished: CD56dimCD16+ NK cells form the predominant population in blood while the CD56brightCD16- NK cell population is more prominent in tissues. However, little data regarding tissue specific characteristics of human NK cells are available, especially in bone marrow as an important localization of leukemic cells. Therefore, we evaluated the expression of chemokine receptors and adhesion molecules on NK cells in healthy donor blood, bone marrow and spleen by flow cytometry. Besides the two conventional NK cell subsets, a major third NK cell population was identified in bone marrow and spleen based on the combined expression of CD69 and CXCR6 (Figure 1). CD69+CXCR6+ NK cells represented 9-50% (mean 30%) of NK cells in marrow (n=15) and 26-57% (mean 43%) of NK cells in spleen (n=7). This CD69+CXCR6+ population was not detected in blood (n=15) nor in cord blood, neither mobilized into the blood stream after G-CSF treatment. The ratio and phenotype of the remaining conventional CD56bright and CD56dim NK cells in bone marrow and spleen were comparable to blood. Early after pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, CD69+CXCR6+ NK cells were absent in bone marrow, but gradually reached normal levels within the first year after transplantation. CD56 was expressed on marrow and spleen CD69+CXCR6+ NK cells at slightly lower levels than the conventional CD56bright NK cells and CD16 was expressed by 7-30% of CD69+CXCR6+ NK cells. CD69+CXCR6+ NK cells expressed high levels of the adhesion molecule CD54 (ICAM-1) as well as natural cytotoxicity triggering receptor NKp46 compared to the conventional CD56bright and CD56dim NK cell populations. CD69+CXCR6+ NK cells did not express the early differentiation markers CD117 (c-kit) and CD127 (IL7Rα), which are expressed by immature NK cells, type III innate lymphoid cells and, to some extent, by conventional CD56bright NK cells. The inhibitory receptor NKG2A, which is acquired early in maturation but lost during the differentiation of CD56dim NK cells, was expressed by 60% of CD69+CXCR6+ NK cells. Furthermore, CD69+CXCR6+ NK cells did not express markers acquired late in differentiation (KIRs, CD57, KLRG1, NKG2C). In functional experiments assessing cytokine producing capacity, CD69+CXCR6+ NK cells were comparable to the CD56dim subset, requiring the combined stimulation with IL12+IL15+IL18 to produce IFN-γ. However, with respect to cytotoxic potential, CD69+CXCR6+ NK cells more resembled the CD56bright NK cell subset; in resting state, CD69+CXCR6+ NK cells expressed perforin but not granzyme B, which was upregulated during overnight IL12+IL15 stimulation. Upon co-culture with K562 tumor cells, CD69+CXCR6+ NK cells degranulated (CD107a) at levels comparable to the conventional CD56bright and CD56dim NK cells. In summary, we identified a distinct NK cell population in human bone marrow and spleen. These cells were a) absent in blood, b) expressed tissue retention marker CD69, and c) were present alongside the conventional NK cell subsets in marrow and spleen. Together, these findings indicate that NK cells with the discriminative CD69+CXCR6+ phenotype constitute a tissue resident NK cell subset. Furthermore, CD69+CXCR6+ NK cells did not express CD49a+, distinguishing them from the recently described liver resident NK cells (Marquardt et al, 2015). Based on their surface receptor expression profile and functional characteristics, CD69+CXCR6+ NK cells have a mature signature that differs from both conventional NK cell subsets. Additional studies in healthy individuals and patients with immuno-hematological diseases are needed to investigate the immunological function of CD69+CXCR6+ NK cells. For example, these cells could have a local immunoregulatory or effector function. Alternatively, bone marrow and spleen may form a reservoir for effector cells waiting to be released into the blood stream. Figure 1. Identification of bone marrow and spleen resident NK cells Figure 1. Identification of bone marrow and spleen resident NK cells Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Bozzano ◽  
Carola Perrone ◽  
Lorenzo Moretta ◽  
Andrea De Maria

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 117 (17) ◽  
pp. 4467-4475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Sciumè ◽  
Giulia De Angelis ◽  
Giorgia Benigni ◽  
Andrea Ponzetta ◽  
Stefania Morrone ◽  
...  

Abstract During development in the bone marrow (BM), NK-cell positioning within specific niches can be influenced by expression of chemokine or adhesion receptors. We previously demonstrated that the maintenance in the BM of selected NK-cell subsets is regulated by the CXCR4/CXCL12 axis. In the present study, we showed that CX3CR1 is prevalently expressed on KLRG1+ NK cells, a subset considered terminally differentiated. Two KLRG1+ NK-cell populations endowed with distinct homing and functional features were defined according to CX3CR1 expression. In the BM, KLRG1+/CX3CR1− NK cells were mainly positioned into parenchyma, while KLRG1+/CX3CR1+ NK cells exhibited reduced CXCR4 expression and were preferentially localized in the sinusoids. We also showed that α4 integrin plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of NK cells in the BM sinusoids and that α4 neutralization leads to strong reduction of BM KLRG1+/CX3CR1+ NK cells. Moreover, we found that KLRG1+/CX3CR1+ cells originate from KLRG1+/CX3CR1− NK-cell population and display impaired capability to produce IFN-γ and to lyse YAC-1 target cells on cytokine stimulation. Altogether, our findings show that CX3CR1 represents a marker of a KLRG1+ NK-cell population with unique properties that can irreversibly differentiate from the KLRG1+/CX3CR1− NK cells during steady state conditions.


Cytometry ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 235-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.J. Laughlin ◽  
N.P. Christiansen ◽  
G.P. Herzig ◽  
L. Blumenson ◽  
D. Bonney ◽  
...  

Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 4858-4858
Author(s):  
Guanghua Chen ◽  
De Pei Wu ◽  
Ming Zhen Yang ◽  
Xiao Wen Tang ◽  
Ai-ning Sun

Abstract Natural killer(NK) cells are innate effector cells of the immune system, believed to limit viremia and tumor burden before the onset of adaptive T and B cell immunity. NK cells are potent effector cells in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. NK cell activity is partially controlled through interactions between killer Ig-like receptors on NK cells and their respective HLA class I ligands. Immunosuppressive agents including cyclosporin, FK506 and Rapamune are utilized in clinical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Little is known about the effects of immunosuppressive agents on NK cells post bone marrow transplantation. The in vivo effects of Rapamune on NK cells were determined in an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation model. Splenic NK cell levels in recipients treated with Rapamune decrease markedly. NK cell proliferation and function are significantly decreased in the presence of Rapamune. Studying the differential effects of immunosuppressive drugs on NK cell function is critical in clinical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 4557-4557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Gonzalez-Gascon y Marin ◽  
Ana Maria Perez-Corral ◽  
Jorge Gayoso ◽  
Javier Anguita ◽  
Cristina Pascual ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 4557 BACKGROUND: Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune effectors that directly lyse virally infected or malignant cells. There are 2 different subsets of NK cells with distinct phenotypic and functional characteristics: the CD56dim subset, which composes 90% of peripheral blood NK cells and has a cytotoxic function, and the CD56bright subset, which cooperates with dendritic cells and T cells in lymph nodes to secrete interferon and promote adaptive immune responses. NK cells are the first donor-derived lymphocyte subset to reconstitute after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, reaching normal levels after 1 month. Nearly all phenotyping studies of NK subsets after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HHSCT) reveal a rapid reconstitution of NK cells towards the CD56bright subset. In addition, Y.-J. Chang et al found the highest 2-year survival in patients with a high number of CD56bright NK cells after unmanipulated HHSCT. We analyzed reconstitution of the NK compartment between days 90 and 180 after unmanipulated bone marrow HHSCT with reduced intensity conditioning (RIC). METHODS: Six adults received unmanipulated bone marrow HHSCT after RIC (fludarabine 30 mg/m2 [day –6 to –2], cyclophosphamide 14.5 mg/kg [day –6 and –5], and busulfan i.v. 3.2mg/kg [day –3]) at our institution between July 2007 and July 2010. Prophylaxis for acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) consisted of cyclophosphamide 50mg/kg (days +3 and +4) and cyclosporine A and mycophenolate mofetil from day +5 onwards. We monitored the reconstitution kinetics of circulating NK cells (CD56+, CD3–), and the CD56bright and CD56dim subsets by multiparametric flow cytometry (FC 500 Beckman® Coulter) at day +90 and day +180 after transplantation. Patient characteristics and clinical outcomes are shown in Table 1. 6 patients who underwent allogeneic HLA-identical sibling HSCT with RIC during the same period were used as controls. RESULTS: After HHSCT, NK cells reached normal levels in all patients but one at day +90, with a median number of NK cells of 111/mm3 (range, 25–195/mm3). At day +180 the median number of NK cells was 92/mm3 (range, 4–272/mm3). When we analyzed the absolute number of CD56bright and CD56dim subsets at day +90, we observed 2 patterns: Two patients showed skewed NK cell reconstitution towards CD56bright (Patient no. 3: 54 CD56bright/mm3; 11 CD56dim/mm3. Patient no. 4: 70 CD56bright/mm3; 17 CD56dim/mm3). Three patients reconstituted with a CD56dim/CD56bright ratio towards the CD56dim cell subset, similar to that of healthy adults (Patient no. 1: 17 CD56bright/mm3; 178 CD56dim/mm3. Patient no. 5: 9 CD56brigh/mm3; 135 CD56dim/mm3. Patient no. 6: 20 CD56bright/mm3; 116 CD56dim/mm3). One patient did not achieve adequate NK cell reconstitution (Patient no. 2: 15 CD56bright/mm3; 10 CD56dim/mm3). In contrast, in the control group, an increase in the CD56bright NK cell subset was not observed in any of the patients at any point. It is worth noting that 2 of the 3 patients with better clinical outcome (no GvHD, no relapse), namely patients no. 3 and no. 4 were the ones with skewed NK cell reconstitution towards the CD56bright NK cell subset. The other patient with a better clinical outcome (patient no. 6) had a normal CD56dim/CD56bright ratio at day +90. However, he showed an early CD56bright reconstitution (363 CD56bright/mm3; 34 CD56dim/mm3) in an additional determination on day +30. NK cell subsets reconstitution kinetics is shown in Figure 1. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, NK cell reconstitution is adequate after RIC unmanipulated bone marrow HHSCT. Some patients recovered with a high proportion of CD56bright NK cells, as previously reported in other studies on HHSCT. Although limited by the sample size, our results are consistent with the previously observed survival advantage of patients with high early levels of CD56bright NK cells after unmanipulated haploidentical transplantation. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 3004-3004
Author(s):  
Kathrin Meinhardt ◽  
Ruth Bauer ◽  
Irena Kroeger ◽  
Julia Schneider ◽  
Franziska Ganss ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 3004 Clinical studies exploiting the impact of natural killer (NK) cells in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) have provided promising results. It is known that NK cells are a heterogeneous population and can be divided into functionally distinct NK cell subpopulations. Murine NK cells can be separated along their expression of CD27 and CD11b and CD117 (c-kit). However, the functional relevance of distinct NK cell subsets in graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) has not been investigated in detail so far. We have established different protocols for ex vivo isolation and expansion of murine NK cell subpopulations. These NK subsets were further analyzed in vitro and in vivo in an allogeneic murine GVHD model. Here we report on different genomic, phenotypic and functional properties of 4 NK cell subsets. Our data clearly demonstrate that CD27+ NK cells revealed the highest IFN-g production upon coculture with tumor cells and/or IL-2. Interestingly, the CD11b+ NK cells express multiple genes of cytotoxic pathways and develop the highest cytotoxic capacity towards tumor cells. We observed up to 60% tumor lysis by CD27- CD11b+ NK cells compared to 40–45% by CD27+ CD11b+, about 25% by CD27+ CD11b- and 10% by c-kit+ CD11b- NK cells at an effector-target ratio of 5:1, respectively. Furthermore, the CD11b+ NK cell subset significantly reduced T cell proliferation induced by allogeneic dendritic cells in mixed lymphocytes reactions. Next, we analyzed the migratory capacity and tissue-specific homing of FACS-sorted NK cell subsets by adoptive transfer of congeneic CD45.1+ and Luc+ NK cell subpopulations in autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Of interest, FACS analysis and in vivo imaging showed that CD11b+ NK cells migrated to peripheral GVHD target organs, whereas CD27+ NK cells preferentially homed to the bone marrow. Finally, this study addressed for the first time the role of distinct NK cell subpopulations in the development of GVHD in a fully MHC mismatched HSCT mouse model. Importantly, we identified the CD11b+ NK cell population as the NK cell subset that significantly diminished GVHD. In vivo imaging of Luc+CD11b+ NK cells revealed that this subset migrates to the colonic tissue to prevent development of GVHD colitis as shown by colonoscopy. In summary, our comparative study outlines that only CD11b+ NK cells, migrating to the peripheral GVHD target organs and providing the most efficient cytolytic capacity directed against allogeneic dendritic cells, protect against GVHD. These new insights are highly relevant for the selection of optimal NK cell subsets in the field of cellular immunotherapy. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 2288-2288
Author(s):  
Dean A. Lee ◽  
Vladimir V Senyukov ◽  
Jerome R Trembley

Abstract NK Cell subpopulations express tremendous diversity through polymorphisms, haplotypes, differential expression, and licensing of the Killer Immunoglobulin-like Receptors (KIR). KIR diversity affects both the predisposition to cancer, and the response to therapies such as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Clinical trials that take advantage of the anti-cancer properties of NK cells have been limited to choosing donors on the basis of KIR genotypes and/or HLA haplotypes. Moreover, adoptive immunotherapy approaches have been limited by low NK cell doses. The latter hurdle has been recently mitigated by methods for expanding clinical grade NK cells ex vivo. These approaches for growing large numbers of cells now enable investigation into selecting more potent NK cell subsets for increased therapeutic efficacy. We hypothesized that the desired KIR repertoire could be molded through inhibition of undesirable KIR populations by crosslinking with relevant anti-KIR antibodies during expansion with our previously described method, which produces a mean 30,000-fold expansion of NK cells in 3 weeks. First, we determined that maximum inhibition was obtained when anti-KIR antibodies were applied to previously activated NK cells, crosslinked with secondary antibody, and then restimulated for proliferation. Robust reduction of targeted KIR-positive populations could be achieved for each inhibitory KIR (Fig. 1). When pre-activated with anti-KIR2DL1 for one stimulation cycle, NK cells expressing this KIR were decreased by a median of 70.4% ± 19.3%. Similarly, KIR2DL2/3+ NK cells could be reduced by 56% ± 17.5%, and KIR3DL1+ NK cells could be reduced by 53.5% ± 16.3%. When anti-KIR antibodies were combined, similar suppression of multiple-KIR subpopulations was observed. Other NK cell receptors were not significantly affected during targeted KIR inhibition. We then assessed the resulting NK cell populations for degranulation responses to targets with selected HLA as KIR ligands. Inhibition of KIR-expressing subpopulations during expansion resulted in NK cell populations with enhanced degranulation against tumor cells expressing the HLA ligand of the targeted KIR. Importantly, the cytotoxicity of the bulk NK cell population against HLA-negative targets remained. These results indicate that KIR crosslinking during NK cell propagation enables significant reduction in the targeted KIR subpopulations, resulting in an NK cell population with a selective decrease in KIR inhibition. By utilizing antibody-controlled expansion for molding of the KIR repertoire according to patient HLA type, a personalized NK cell product may be produced with enhanced potency, improving NK cell immunotherapy. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 100 (7) ◽  
pp. 2321-2329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Honczarenko ◽  
Yi Le ◽  
Aleksandra M. Glodek ◽  
Marcin Majka ◽  
James J. Campbell ◽  
...  

Although the SDF-1 (CXCL12)/CXCR4 axis is important for B-cell development, it is not yet clear to what extent CC chemokines might influence B lymphopoiesis. In the current study, we characterized CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) expression and function of primary progenitor B-cell populations in human bone marrow. CCR5 was expressed on all bone marrow B cells at levels between 150 and 200 molecules per cell. Stimulation of bone marrow B cells with the CCR5-binding chemokine macrophage inflammatory protein 1β (MIP-1β; CCL4) did not cause chemotaxis, but CCL4 was able to trigger potent calcium mobilization responses and activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in developing B cells. We also determined that CCR5-binding chemokines MIP-1α (CCL3), CCL4, and RANTES (CCL5), specifically by signaling through CCR5, could affect all progenitor B-cell populations through a novel mechanism involving heterologous desensitization of CXCR4. This cross-desensitization of CXCR4 was manifested by the inhibition of CXCL12-induced calcium mobilization, MAPK activation, and chemotaxis. These findings indicate that CCR5 can indeed mediate biologic responses of bone marrow B cells, even though these cell populations express low levels of CCR5 on their cell surface. Thus, by modulation of CXCR4 function, signaling through CCR5 may influence B lymphopoiesis by affecting the migration and maturation of B-cell progenitors in the bone marrow microenvironment.


Blood ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 81 (7) ◽  
pp. 1819-1826 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Shibuya ◽  
H Kojima ◽  
K Shibuya ◽  
K Nagayoshi ◽  
T Nagasawa ◽  
...  

Natural killer (NK) cells can be cultured in interleukin-2 (IL-2)- containing medium from selected human bone marrow (BM) cells obtained after the elimination of mature T and NK cells. To isolate and characterize IL-2-responsive NK progenitors in the selected BM cells, we investigated the expression of IL-2 receptors (IL-2R) on these cells. Neither CD25 (IL-2R alpha) nor IL-2R beta antigen was observed on the selected BM cells before culture. However, CD25+ cells without detectable levels of IL-2R beta antigen appeared 24 hours after culture in IL-2-containing medium. Cells were sorted from each fraction of the selected BM cells 24 hours after culture after staining with anti-CD33, anti-CD34, and anti-CD25 monoclonal antibodies. The generation of NK cells (CD3- CD56+ cells) and NK activity were observed only from the CD33-/CD34-/CD25+ cell fraction after culture in IL-2-containing medium. The frequency of IL-2-responsive NK progenitors relative to the fraction was 1/231 (95% confidence range, 1/156 to 1/289), which corresponded to the frequency relative to the total number of selected BM cells when the frequency relative to the CD33-/CD34-/CD25+ cell- fraction was converted according to the percentage of these cells in the total number of selected BM cells. These results indicated that IL- 2-responsive NK progenitors were enriched in the CD33-/CD34-/CD25+ cell fraction.


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