Activated γδ T Cells With Higher CD107a Expression and Inflammatory Potential During Early Pregnancy in Patients With Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion.

Previous studies have reported the involvement of γδ T cells in recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA); however, both pathogenic and protective effects were suggested. To interrogate the role of γδ T cells in RSA, peripheral blood from RSA patients and healthy women with or without pregnancy were analyzed for γδ T cells by flow cytometry (n = 9-11 for each group). Moreover, the decidua from pregnant RSA patients and healthy controls (RSA-P and HC-P group, respectively) was simultaneously stained for γδ T cells by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and bulk sequenced for gene expression. Our results demonstrated that the frequencies of peripheral γδ T cells and their subpopulations in RSA patients were comparable to that in healthy subjects, but the PD1 expression on Vδ2+ cells was increased in pregnant patients. Furthermore, peripheral Vδ2+ cells in RSA-P patients demonstrated significantly increased expression of CD107a, as compared to that in pregnant healthy controls. In addition, RSA-P patients had higher proportion of IL-17A-secreting but not IL-4-secreting Vδ2+ cells compared to the control groups. In decidua, an inflammatory microenvironment was also evident in RSA-P patients, in which CCL8 expression and the infiltration of certain immune cells were higher than that in the HC-P group, as revealed by transcriptional analysis. Finally, although the presence of γδ T cells in decidua could be detected during pregnancy in both RSA patients and healthy subjects by multicolor IHC analysis, the expression of CD107a on γδ T cells was markedly higher in the RSA-P group. Collectively, our results indicated that the increased activation, cytotoxicity, and inflammatory potential of peripheral and/or local γδ T cells might be responsible for the pathogenesis of RSA. These findings could provide a better understanding of the role of γδ T cells in RSA and shed light on novel treatment strategies by targeting γδ T cells for RSA patients.

Responsiveness of platelets during storage studied with flow cytometry--formation of platelet subpopulations and LAMP-1 as new markers for the platelet storage lesion.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Storage lesions may prevent transfused platelets to respond to agonists and arrest bleeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate and quantify the capacity of platelet activation during storage using flow cytometry and new markers of platelet activation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Activation responses of platelets prepared by apheresis were measured on days 1, 5, 7 and 12. In addition, comparisons were made for platelet concentrates stored until swirling was affected. Lysosome-associated membrane protein-1 (LAMP-1), P-selectin and phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure were assessed by flow cytometry on platelets in different subpopulations in resting state or following stimulation with platelet agonists (cross-linked collagen-related peptide (CRP-XL), PAR1- and PAR4-activating peptides). RESULTS: The ability to form subpopulations upon activation was significantly decreased already at day 5 for some agonist combinations. The agonist-induced exposure of PS and LAMP-1 also gradually decreased with time. Spontaneous exposure of P-selectin and PS increased with time, while spontaneous LAMP-1 exposure was unchanged. In addition, agonist-induced LAMP-1 expression clearly discriminated platelet concentrates with reduced swirling from those with retained swirling. This suggests that LAMP-1 could be a good marker to capture changes in activation capacity in stored platelets. CONCLUSION: The platelet activation potential seen as LAMP-1 exposure and fragmentation into platelet subpopulations is potential sensitive markers for the platelet storage lesion.

Differential expression of natural killer activating and inhibitory receptors in patients with newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus.

AIM: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presents as the abnormal activation and over-proliferation of immune competent cells. Few studies have characterized the role of natural killer (NK) and NK T (NKT) cells in the pathogenesis of SLE, and therefore a consensus has not been reached as yet. METHOD: Thirty-two patients with new-onset SLE and 15 healthy controls were recruited. Activated and inhibitory NK and NKT cells in peripheral blood were quantified by flow cytometry. The proportions of spontaneous and stimulated interferon (IFN)-γ(+) NK and NKT cells and CD107a(+) NK cells was examined. Finally, the potential relationship between the cell subsets and clinical indexes was analyzed. RESULTS: The proportions of NK and NKT cells (P = 0.002 and 0.004, respectively) as well as the proportions of NKG2C(+) NK cells, inhibitory NK and NKT cell subsets (P = 0.016, P = 0.019, P = 0.049, and P = 0.028, respectively) in SLE patients were significantly lower than those in controls. In contrast, the proportions of activated NK cells and NKT cell subsets were significantly higher (P = 0.036, P = 0.034, P = 0.005, and P = 0.007, respectively). Moreover, the proportions of stimulated IFN-γ(+) NKT cells were significantly higher than in the controls, and the proportions of stimulated CD107a(+) NKT cells in SLE patients were significantly lower than in the controls (P = 0.032 and P = 0.02, respectively). CONCLUSION: Lower proportions of NK and NKT cells, higher proportions of activated NK cells and activated NKT cells, lower proportions of inhibitory NK and NKT cells, higher NKT cell activity, and lower NKT cell degranulation may induce the autoimmune reaction involved in the pathogenesis of SLE.

High frequency of activated natural killer and natural killer T-cells in patients with new onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Chronic low-grade inflammation is crucial for the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and immunocompetent cells, such as T-cells, B-cells, mast cells and macrophages, regulate the pathogenesis of T2DM. However, little is known about the role of natural killer (NK) and natural killer T (NKT) cells in the pathogenic process of T2DM. A total of 16 patients with new onset T2DM and nine healthy subjects were recruited, and the frequency of peripheral blood activated and inhibitory NK and NKT cells in individual subjects was determined by flow cytometry. The frequency of spontaneous and inducible interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and CD107a(+) NK cells was further examined, and the potential association of the frequency of NK cells with clinical measures was analyzed. While there was no significant difference in the frequency of peripheral blood NK and NKT cells between patients and controls, the frequency of NKG2D(+) NK and NKT cells in patients was significantly higher than those in the controls (P = 0.011). In contrast, the frequency of NKG2A(+) and KIR2DL3(+) inhibitory NK and NKT cells in patients was significantly lower than those in the controls (P = 0.002, P < 0.0001, respectively). Furthermore, the frequencies of NKG2D(+) NK cells were correlated significantly with the values of body mass index in patients. Moreover, the frequencies of spontaneous and inducible CD107a(+), but not IFN-γ-secreting, NK cells in patients were significantly higher than those in the controls (P < 0.004, P < 0.0001). Our data indicated that a higher frequency of activated NK cells may participate in the obesity-related chronic inflammation involved in the pathogenesis of T2DM.

BK virus-specific T cells for use in cellular therapy show specificity to multiple antigens and polyfunctional cytokine responses.

BACKGROUND: BK virus (BKV) infection causes hemorrhagic cystitis posthemopoietic stem-cell transplant and graft loss in renal transplant recipients. Reactivation occurs in up to 60% of patients in both groups. Treatment-related cellular immunosuppression is a major contributor to the development of BKV-related disease, but the targets of the immune response are not well characterized. Immunotherapy by adoptive transfer of cellular effectors has been shown to be effective in controlling and preventing some virus-related diseases in transplant recipients, particularly Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus. Infusion of BKV-specific T cells may potentially reconstitute functional BKV immunity and reduce clinical complications of BKV infection. METHODS: BKV-specific T cells for clinical use in adoptive immunotherapy were generated using monocyte-derived dendritic cells pulsed with overlapping peptide mixes spanning the five BKV proteins VP1, VP2, VP3, large T antigen, and small T antigen. Phenotypic and functional characteristics of the cells were investigated as well as their antigen specificity. RESULTS: Expanded CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells responded to restimulation with BKV peptides principally from VP1, large T, or small T antigens; produced multiple cytokines; and showed cytotoxic activity against antigen-coated targets. CONCLUSIONS: Possible clinical uses for BKV-specific T cells generated using this method include immune reconstitution posthemopoietic stem-cell transplantation or prophylaxis and treatment of immune deficiency in renal transplant recipients, fulfilling the need for effective therapy for BKV-related hemorrhagic cystitis and renal dysfunction.

Elevated natural killer cell activity despite altered functional and phenotypic profile in Ugandans with HIV-1 clade A or clade D infection.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Natural killer (NK) cells most likely contribute toward limiting HIV-1 replication, and investigation into their function throughout the course of infection is therefore important. We here aimed to determine the state of the NK cell compartment in Ugandans with untreated HIV-1 clade A or D infection in comparison with matched uninfected controls. METHODS AND RESULTS: The function and phenotype of NK cells were investigated using 10-color flow cytometry. Surprisingly, NK cells displayed elevated production of interferon-gamma and macrophage inflammatory protein 1beta, as well as CD107a degranulation in infected subjects. This included unexpected levels of degranulation in the CD56bright subset of NK cells and high levels of macrophage inflammatory protein 1beta in CD56negative NK cells. HIV-1 infection was associated with reduced expression of KIR2DL1, NKG2A, CD161, and NKp30 in CD56dim and CD56negative NK cells, whereas lowered CD161 expression was the only alteration in the CD56bright subset. Interestingly, low CD4 counts were associated with increased levels of interferon-gamma and degranulation in CD56bright NK cells, as well as increased NKp44 expression in the CD56dim cells. CONCLUSIONS: NK cells in HIV-1-infected Ugandans display elevated activity, despite an altered functional and phenotypic profile. Furthermore, specific alterations in the CD56bright and CD56dim subsets occur in patients with severe CD4 loss.