IL-12 regulates the expansion, phenotype, and function of murine NK cells activated by IL-15 and IL-18.

ABSTRACT: NK cells, which are composed of phenotypically and functionally heterogeneous subpopulations, play critical roles in immunity against cancer. The mechanism of generation of distinct subsets such as the effector and regulatory subtypes is unclear. Here, we show that this process comprises several steps, including generation of proliferating, highly cytotoxic cells activated by IL-15/IL-18 and differentiation into distinct cell populations induced with IL-12. Freshly prepared murine splenic NK cells expressed IL-15Rs and IL-18Rs and rapidly began to proliferate following stimulation with IL-15/IL-18. The proliferating NK cells highly expressed various activation markers such as B220, CD49b (DX5), lysosome-associated membrane glycoprotein 1 (LAMP-1), DNAX accessory molecule 1, perforin, and g

SUBMITTER: Oka N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11027610 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature