• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제23권10호
• /
• pp.1216-1222
• /
• 2013

자연살상세포(NK cells)은 림프구계의 세포로서 외부 침임 병원균을 막고 체내 형질변환세포를 제거하는데 참여하고 있다. 이러한 자연살상세포의 활성은 특정한 항원이 필요 없고 활성화 신호와 억제성 신호의 균형에 의해 조절되고 있다. 자연살상세포의 중요한 활성화 신호 중의 하나는 NKG2D 수용체를 통한 것인데, 이 NKG2D 수용체를 통해 자연살상세포는 암세포에 있는 NKG2D 리간드를 인식할 수 있다. 지금까지 인간에서는 여덟개의 NKG2D 리간드가 밝혀져 있고 이러한 리간드의 발현은 다양한 기전을 엄격하게 조절되고 있다. 암세포는 암유전자(oncogenes)에 의해 세포내 다양한 유전자의 발현이 정상세포와 확연히 달라지는데, 이러한 암유전자에 의해서 NKG2D 리간드의 발현이 영향을 받을 것으로 생각되어 진다. 이 연구는 인간의 암세포에서 가장 자주 발현되는 세가지 암유전자 k-ras와 c-myc, wnt의 억제를 통해 NKG2D 리간드의 발현이 어떻게 변화되는 지를 알아보았다. k-ras와 c-myc의 억제는 NKG2D 리간드의 발현을 효과적을 증가시켰고 암세포가 자연살상세포에 더욱 잘 죽게 변화되었다. 그러나 wnt 억제는 MICA와 ULBP1의 전사를 감소시켰다. wnt 억제에 의한 NKG2D 리간드의 전사억제에도 불구하고 세포막의 단백질 발현은 변하지 않아서 암세포의 자연살상세포에 대한 감수성은 별다른 변화를 보이지 않았다. 따라서 k-ras와 c-myc, wnt 억제는 각각 다른 반응을 보였으며 최종적인 자연살상세포에 대한 감수성은 NKG2D 리간드의 세포표면단백질 발현정도에 의해 결정됨을 알 수 있었다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제16권9호
• /
• pp.3901-3905
• /
• 2015

Objective: Our aim was to investigation the roles of MHC class I chain-related gene A(MICA) and natural killer cell group 2D(NKG2D) in human renal cancer cells. Materials and Methods: The expression of membrane MICA (mMICA) on renal cells and NKG2D on NK cells were detected by flow cytometry (FCM); the content of sMICA were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the distribution of mMICA on renal tumor tissues by immunohistochemistry; the interaction between MICA and NKG2D was observed by antibody closed method. Results: Our results showed that the expression of mMICA in renal cancer tissues was significantly higher than in controls, where the soluble MICA was not expressed. Cytotoxic activity of NK cells was significantly reduced after exposure to NKG2D and MICA antibodies (P<0.05), and serum containing sMICA can obviously lower the function of NKG2D (P<0.05). Conclusions: The interaction of mMICA and NKG2D play important roles in mediation of cytotoxicity of NK cells in RCC. On the other hand, sMICA may mediate tumor immune escape through down- regulated NKG2D expression.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권6호
• /
• pp.2685-2688
• /
• 2014

Background: To explore the prevalence of lymphocyte subgroups $CD3^+$ $CD4^+$ and $CD3^+$ $CD8^+$ and their surface receptors NKG2D and NKG2A in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods: A total of 40 patients with NSCLC were divided into different groups according to different clinical factors (TNM staging, pathological patterns and genders) for assessment of relations with $CD3^+$ $CD4^+$ and $CD3^+$ $CD8^+$ and the surface receptors NKG2D and NKG2A of T lymphocytes in peripheral blood by flow cytometry. Results: Patients in the advanced group had evidently lower levels of $CD3^+$ $CD4^+$ but markedly higher levels of $CD3^+$ $CD8^+$ in peripheral blood than those with early lesions (p<0.05). In addition, NSCLC patients in the advanced group had obviously higher $CD3^+$ $CD4^+$ NKG2D and $CD3^+$ $CD8^+$ NKG2A expression rates but lower $CD3^+$ $CD4^+$ NKG2A and $CD3^+$ $CD8^+$ NKG2D expression rates (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences between NSCLC patients with different genders and pathological patterns in expression levels of lymphocyte subgroups $CD3^+$ $CD4^+$ and $CD3^+$ $CD8^+$ and their surface receptors NKG2D and NKG2A. Conclusions: Unbalanced expression of surface receptors NKG2D and NKG2A in $CD3^+$ $CD4^+$ and $CD3^+$ $CD8^+$ lymphocytes may be associated with a poor prognosis, greater malignancy and immunological evasion by advanced cancers, related to progression of lung cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권18호
• /
• pp.7857-7861
• /
• 2014

Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in anti-tumor immunity. Interleukin (IL)-18 is an immunoregulatory cytokine that induces potent NK cell-dependent anti-tumor responses when administrated with other cytokines. In this study, we explored the effects of combining IL-18 and IL-2 on NK cytotoxicity as well as expression levels of the NK cell receptor NKG2D in vitro. Freshly isolated PBMCs were incubated for 48 h with IL-18 and IL-2, then CD107a expression on $CD3^-CD56^+$ NK cells was determined by three-colour flow cytometry to evaluate the cytotoxicity of NK cells against human erythroleukemia K562 cells and human colon carcinoma HT29 cells. Flow cytometric analysis was also employed to determine NKG2D expression on NK cells. The combined use of IL-18 and IL-2 significantly increased CD107a expression on NK cells compared with using IL-18 or IL-2 alone, suggesting that the combination of these two cytokines exerted synergistic enhancement of NK cytotoxicity. IL-18 also enhanced NKG2D expression on NK cells when administered with IL-2. In addition, blockade of NKG2D signaling with NKG2D-blocking antibody attenuated the up-regulatory effect of combining IL-18 and IL-2 on NK cytolysis. Our data revealed that IL-18 synergized with IL-2 to dramatically enhance the cytolytic activity of human NK cells in a NKG2D-dependent manner. The results appear encouraging for the use of combined IL-18 and IL-2 in tumor immunotherapy.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제33권2호
• /
• pp.149-157
• /
• 2023

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)는 암세포의 생존과 성장뿐만 아니라 면역세포의 활성에도 영향을 미치는 다기능 사이토카인이다. 일반적으로 암세포에서 유래된 TGF-β는 초기 암세포의 생존과 성장을 촉진하고 면역억제 효과가 있다고 받아들여지고 있지만 TGF-β는 세포의 종류나 단계에 따라 다른 효과를 가진 것으로 알려져 있다. 따라서 암 성장에 미치는 TGF-β의 작용기전은 아직 명확하게 정의하기 어렵다. 이 연구에서는 원발성 대장암 세포주인 KM12C와 이들의 두 전이성 세포주인 KM12SM과 KM12L4A에서 TGF-β 신호전달이 5개의 NKG2D 리간드 발현과 NK 세포 매개 항암 면역 반응에 미치는 영향을 조사했다. 외인성 TGF-β에 의해 KM12C의 MICA, MICB, ULBP1 및 ULBP2의 표면 단백질 발현 수준이 감소하였고 TGF-β 억제제인 galunisertib에 의해 MICA, MIAB, ULBP1, ULBP2 및 ULBP3의 발현이 증가하였다. 그러나 KM12SM과 KM12L4A에서는 TGF-β 또는 galunisertib에 의한 유의성 있는 NKG2DLs의 변화를 보지못하였다. Galunisertib를 통한 TGF-β 신호전달 억제는 KM12C에 대한 NK 세포 매개 항암 면역 반응을 개선했지만 KM12SM과 KM12L4A에 대한 유의성 있는 반응을 나타내지 않았다. 따라서 TGF-β 신호 전달을 억제하면 KM12C에 대한 NK 세포 매개 항암 면역 반응은 개선할 수 있지만 KM12SM 및 KM12L4A에서는 TGF-β 신호 전달 억제를 통한 NKG2DLs 발현의 증가 및 향상된 NK 세포 매개 암 면역 반응을 기대하기는 어려울 것으로 생각된다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제27권6호
• /
• pp.1204-1208
• /
• 2017

Natural killer (NK) cells have been reported to be dysfunctional in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection. However, the functional recovery of NK cells under antiviral therapeutic agents in CHB was not clearly understood. In this study, we investigated the phenotypic changes of NK(CD56+CD3-) cells in terms of their functional markers (CD16, NKG2A, NKG2D) during tenofovir therapy in CHB. The frequency of NK(CD56+CD3-) cells in CHB patients was significantly increased after 12 months of tenofovir therapy when compared with baseline. The expression levels of CD16+/CD56+CD3- and NKG2A+/CD56+CD3- cells were also affected by tenofovir treatment. In addition, there was a positive correlation between the proportion of NK(CD56+CD3-) cells and HBV DNA (log copies/ml) in CHB patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권9호
• /
• pp.4039-4044
• /
• 2014

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-cancer effects and mechanisms of immunochemotherapy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cells. Materials and Methods: In order to detect whether 5-FU+IL-2 could effectively inhibit tumor growth in vivo, we established an A549-bearing nude mouse model. The cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells was evaluated using a standard chromium release assay. To evaluate the relevance of NK cells in 5-FU+IL-2-mediated tumor inhibitory effects, we depleted NK cells in A549-bearing mice by injecting anti-asialo-GM-1 antibodies. Effects of 5-FU+IL-2 on the expression and promoter activity of NKG2D ligands (MICA/MICB) in A549 cells in vitro were also assessed. Results: In A549-bearing nude mice, combination therapy significantly inhibited tumor growth in comparison with monotherapy with 5-FU or IL-2 and enhanced the recognition and lysis of tumor cells by NK cells. Further study of mechanisms showed that NK cells played a vital role in the anticancer immune response of 5-FU+IL-2 immunochemotherapy. In addition, the combination therapy synergistically stimulated the expression and promoter activity of MICA/MICB. Conclusions: 5-FU and IL-2 immunochemotherapy significantly inhibited tumor growth and activated NK cytotoxicity in vivo, and these effects were partly impaired after depleting NK cells in tumor-bearing mice. Combination treatment of 5-FU and IL-2 upregulated the expression and the promoter activity of MICA/MICB in A549 cells, which enhanced the recognition of A549 cells by NK cells. All of the data indicated that immunochemotherapy of 5-FU and IL-2 may provide a new treatment option for patients with lung cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권22호
• /
• pp.9667-9672
• /
• 2014

Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a malignant gastrointestinal cancer with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite severe side effects of chemotherapy, the use of immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy has emerged as a common clinical treatment. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of the combined doxorubicin and interferon-${\alpha}$ (IFN-${\alpha}$) therapy on murine pancreatic cancer Panc02 cells in vitro and in vivo and underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods: A Panc02-bearing mouse model was established to determine whether doxorubicin and interferon-${\alpha}$ (IFN-${\alpha}$) could effectively inhibit tumor growth in vivo. Cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) was evaluated using a standard LDH release assay. To evaluate the relevance of NK cells and CD8 T cells to the combination therapy-mediated anti-tumor effects, they were depleted in tumor-bearing mice by injecting anti-asialo-GM-1 antibodies or anti-CD8 antibodies, respectively. Finally, the influence of doxorubicin+interferon-${\alpha}$ (IFN-${\alpha}$) on the ligands of NK and T cells was assessed by flow cytometry. Results: The combination therapy group demonstrated a significant inhibition of growth of Panc02 in vivo, resulting from activated cytotoxicity of NK cells and CTLs. Depleting CD8 T cells or NK cells reduced the anticancer effects mediated by immunochemotherapy. Furthermore, the doxorubicin+IFN-a treatment increased the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I) and NKG2D ligands on Panc02 cells, suggesting that the combined therapy may be a potential strategy for enhancing immunogenicity of tumors. All these data indicate that the combination therapy using doxorubicin and interferon-${\alpha}$ (IFN-${\alpha}$) may be a potential strategy for treating pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제33권7호
• /
• pp.864-874
• /
• 2023

Natural killer (NK) cell dysfunctions against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a hypoxic environment. Many solid tumors are present in a hypoxic condition, which changes the effector function of various immune cells. The transcription of hypoxic-inducible factors (HIFs) in cancer cells make it possible to adapt to their hypoxic environment and to escape the immune surveillance of NK cells. Recently, the correlation between the transcription of HIF-1α and pro-inflammatory cytokines has been reported. Interleukin (IL)-6 is higher in cancers with a highly invasive ability, and is closely related to the metastasis of cancers. This study showed that the expression of HIF-1α in HCC cells was associated with the presence of IL-6 in the environment of HCC-NK cells. Blocking of IL-6 by antibody in the HCC-NK interaction changed the production of several cytokines including TGF-β, IL-1, IL-18 and IL-21. Interestingly, in a co-culture of HIF-1α-expressed HCC cells and NK cells, blocking of IL-6 increased the production of IL-21 in their supernatants. In addition, the absence of IL-6 significantly enhanced the cytotoxic ability and the expression of the activating receptors (NKG2D, NKp44, and NKG2C) in NK cells to HIF-1α-expressed HCC cells. These effects might be made by the decreased expression of HIF-1α in HCC cells through the inhibited phosphorylation of STAT3. In conclusion, the absence of IL-6 in the interaction of HIF-1α-expressed HCC cells and NK cells could enhance the antitumor activity of NK cells to HCC cells.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제26권11호
• /
• pp.1345-1354
• /
• 2016

원형탈모증은 흔하게 발병하고 두피와 전신에 모발의 탈락을 일으키는 모낭조직 특이 자가면역질환이다. 모낭은 자체적으로 면역체계와 내분비 환경을 가지고 각 모발주기 단계에 따라 다른 면역 상태를 나타내는 특이한 기관이다. 성장기 모낭의 면역특권의 파괴는 모낭상피 MHC class I 발현과 자가반응성 CD8+T세포에 대한 자가항원 발현을 유도하는 자가면역의 공격을 일으키고 원형탈모증을 유발한다. 임상적 실험적 연구에 의하면, 심리적 스트레스도 모낭 면역/호르몬 체계에 영향을 미쳐 원형탈모증의 유도에 관여할 수 있다고 지적한다. 원형탈모증의 핵심적인 병리기전은 면역특권 수호자(ACTH, ${\alpha}-MSH$와 $TGF-{\beta}$ 등), 자연살해세포그룹 2D-양성(NKG2D+) 세포(NK 세포와 CD8+T 세포 등)와 스트레스 호르몬(CRH와 substance P)과 관련되어 있다. 효과적인 치료법은 여전히 요구되고 있다. 앞으로 치료목표 중의 하나는 스트레스를 포함한 모낭 면역특권을 개선하는 것일 것이다. 최근 연구는 건선, 아토피피부염, 류마티스 관절염 같은 다른 자가면역질환에서 사용되는 JAK억제제와 면역조절제, Tregs, 혈소판풍부혈장요법, 스타틴과 프로스타글란딘 유사제가 원형탈모증에 효과적이라고 보고하였다. 본 논문은 모낭주위 내분비/면역과 관련된 발병기전에 대한 새로운 이해와 원형탈모증의 새로운 치료법에 대해 고찰하였다.