A high-throughput assay of NK cell activity in whole blood and its clinical application.

Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system and have the ability to kill tumor cells and virus-infected cells without prior sensitization. Malignant tumors and viruses have developed, however, strategies to suppress NK cells to escape from their responses. Thus, the evaluation of NK cell activity (NKA) could be invaluable to estimate the status and the outcome of cancers, viral infections, and immune-mediated diseases. Established methods that measure NKA, such as (51)Cr release assay and CD107a degranulation assay, may be used to determine NK cell function, but they are complicated and time-consuming because they require isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or NK cells. In some cases these assays require hazardous material such as radioactive isotopes. To overcome these difficulties, we developed a simple assay that uses whole blood instead of PBMC or isolated NK cells. This novel assay is suitable for high-throughput screening and the monitoring of diseases, because it employs serum of ex vivo stimulated whole blood to detect interferon (IFN)-γ secreted from NK cells as an indicator of NKA. After the stimulation of NK cells, the determination of IFNγ concentration in serum samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) provided a swift, uncomplicated, and high-throughput assay of NKA ex vivo. The NKA results microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer patients was showed significantly lower NKA, 263.6 ± 54.5 pg/mL compared with healthy subjects, 867.5 ± 50.2 pg/mL (p value <0.0001). Therefore, the NKA could be utilized as a supportive diagnostic marker for microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer.

Susceptibility of CD24(+) ovarian cancer cells to anti-cancer drugs and natural killer cells.

Natural killer cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system that play a key role in the direct elimination of transformed or virus-infected cells. Recently, it has been reported that NK cells can attack cancer cells with stem cell-like properties. In this study, we isolated ovarian cancer cell lines CAOV3 and TOV21G with and without CD24, which has been reported as an ovarian cancer stem cell marker, and compared their drug resistance and susceptibility to NK cell lysis. The isolated CD24(+) CAOV3 and TOV21G cells were more resistant to cisplatin and doxorubicin anti-cancer drugs. Also, CD24(+) CAOV3 and TOV21G cells were more susceptible to NK cell lysis compared with CD24(-) cells. In order to identify reasons for the differing NK cell susceptibility, we examined NK cell-killing mechanisms against CD24(+) cancer cell lines by analyzing NKG2D ligands, MHC class I molecules, and natural cytotoxic receptor ligands expression on target cells. Consistently, CD24(+) CAOV3 and TOV21G cells showed up-regulated NKG2D ligands and down-regulated MHC class I molecule expression. These findings show that CD24(+) ovarian cancer cell lines are more resistant to antitumor drugs but are more susceptible to NK cell lysis; thus, NK cell immunotherapy might be useful in eliminating ovarian cancer stem cells and preventing tumor recurrence and metastasis.

On the mechanism of internalization of alpha-synuclein into microglia: roles of ganglioside GM1 and lipid raft.

ALpha-synuclein (alpha-syn) has been known to be a key player of the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease and has recently been detected in extracellular biological fluids and shown to be rapidly secreted from cells. The penetration of alpha-syn into cells has also been observed. In this study, we observed that dl-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol, a glucosyltransferase inhibitor, and proteinase K inhibited the internalization of extracellular monomeric alpha-syn into BV-2 cells, and the addition of monosialoganglioside GM1 ameliorated the inhibition of alpha-syn internalization in dl-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol-treated BV-2 cells. Furthermore, inhibition of clathrin-, caveolae-, and dynamin-dependent endocytosis did not prevent the internalization of alpha-syn, but disruption of lipid raft inhibited it. Inhibition of macropinocytosis and disruption of actin and microtubule structures also did not inhibit the internalization of alpha-syn. In addition, we further confirmed these observations by co-culture system of BV-2 cells and alpha-syn-over-expressing SH-SY5Y cells. These findings suggest that extracellular alpha-syn is internalized into microglia via GM1 as well as hitherto-unknown protein receptors in clathrin-, caveolae-, and dynamin-independent, but lipid raft-dependent manner. Elucidation of the mechanism involved in internalization of alpha-syn should be greatly helpful in the development of new treatments of alpha-syn-related neurodegenerative diseases.

Identification of the amino acid sequence motif of alpha-synuclein responsible for macrophage activation.

Alpha-synuclein (Syn) is implicated in the pathogenesis of PD and related neurodegenerative disorders. Recent studies have also shown that alpha-synuclein can activate microglia and enhance dopaminergic neurodegeneration. The mechanisms of microglia activation by alpha-synuclein, however, are not well understood. In this study, we found that not only alpha-synuclein but also beta- and gamma-synucleins activated macrophages (RAW 264.7) in vitro. Macrophages treated with synuclein proteins secreted TNF-alpha in a dose-dependent manner. Synuclein family proteins also increased mRNA transcription of COX-2 and iNOS. Two alpha-synuclein deletion mutants, SynDeltaNAC and Syn61-140, activated macrophages, while deletion mutants Syn1-60 and Syn96-140 did not significantly activate them. Finally, we demonstrated that macrophage activation by alpha-synuclein was accompanied by phosphorylation of ERK. These results suggest that synuclein family proteins can activate macrophages, and that macrophage activation needs both the N-terminal and C-terminal domains of alpha-synuclein, but not the central NAC region.

Reduction of the CD16(-)CD56bright NK cell subset precedes NK cell dysfunction in prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Natural cytotoxicity, mediated by natural killer (NK) cells plays an important role in the inhibition and elimination of malignant tumor cells. To investigate the immunoregulatory role of NK cells and their potential as diagnostic markers, NK cell activity (NKA) was analyzed in prostate cancer (PCa) patients with particular focus on NK cell subset distribution. METHODS: Prospective data of NKA and NK cell subset distribution patterns were measured from 51 patients initially diagnosed with PCa and 54 healthy controls. NKA was represented by IFN-γ levels after stimulation of the peripheral blood with Promoca®. To determine the distribution of NK cell subsets, PBMCs were stained with fluorochrome-conjugated monoclonal antibodies. Then, CD16(+)CD56(dim) and CD16(-)CD56(bright) cells gated on CD56(+)CD3(-) cells were analyzed using a flow-cytometer. RESULTS: NKA and the proportion of CD56(bright) cells were significantly lower in PCa patients compared to controls (430.9 pg/ml vs. 975.2 pg/ml and 2.3% vs. 3.8%, respectively; p<0.001). Both tended to gradually decrease according to cancer stage progression (p for trend = 0.001). A significantly higher CD56(dim)-to-CD56(bright) cell ratio was observed in PCa patients (41.8 vs. 30.3; p<0.001) along with a gradual increase according to cancer stage progression (p for trend = 0.001), implying a significant reduction of CD56(bright) cells in relation to the alteration of CD56(dim) cells. The sensitivity and the specificity of NKA regarding PCa detection were 72% and 74%, respectively (best cut-off value at 530.9 pg/ml, AUC = 0.786). CONCLUSIONS: Reduction of CD56(bright) cells may precede NK cell dysfunction, leading to impaired cytotoxicity against PCa cells. These observations may explain one of the mechanisms behind NK cell dysfunction observed in PCa microenvironment and lend support to the development of future cancer immunotherapeutic strategies.