In vitro analysis of the proliferative capacity and cytotoxic effects of ex vivo induced natural killer cells, cytokine-induced killer cells, and gamma-delta T cells

BMC Immunology

Research Article

Chao Niu¹  Min Li¹  Hua He¹  Jifan Hu¹  Wei Li¹  Dongsheng Xu¹  Jiuwei Cui¹  Haofan Jin¹  Jianting Xu¹ 

[1] Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, 130021, Changchun, China;

关键词: Natural killer cells;    Cytokine-induced killer cells;    Gamma-delta T cells;    Cytotoxicity;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12865-015-0124-x

 received in 2015-01-06, accepted in 2015-09-29,  发布年份 2015

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundRecent studies have focused on the significant cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells, cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells, and gamma-delta (γδ) T cells in tumor cells. Nevertheless, the therapeutic features of these cell types have not been compared in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of activation and expansion of NK, CIK, and γδ T cells from cancer patients in vitro, and to clarify the differences in their antitumor capacities.MethodsNK, CIK, and γδ T cells were induced from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 20 cancer patients by using specific cytokines. Expression of CD69, NKG2D, CD16, granzyme B, perforin, IFN-γ, and IL-2 was measured by flow cytometry. Cytokine production and cytotoxicity were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Calcein-AM methods.ResultsNK cell proliferation was superior to that of CIK cells, but lower than that of γδ T cells. NK cells had a much stronger ability to secrete perforin, granzyme B, IFN-γ, and IL-2 than did CIK and γδ T cells, and imparted significantly higher overall cytotoxicity.ConclusionsExpanded NK cells from cancer patients are the most effective immune cells in the context of cytokine secretion and anti-tumor cytotoxicity in comparison to CIK and γδ T cells, making them an optimal candidate for adoptive cellular immunotherapy.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Niu et al. 2015