Reduced natural killer (NK) function associated with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and reduced expression of activating NK receptors.

ABSTRACT: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis with potential for progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We compared natural killer (NK) cytolytic function in 48 MDS patients with 37 healthy donors and found reduced activity in the patient population (K562 cytolysis, 19% +/- 21% SD versus 40% +/- 17%) (P < .001). NK cytotoxicity in MDS patients was reduced against 3 disparate tumor targets with differential activating receptor requirement, suggesting global defects in NK function. Reduced NK function in MDS was significantly associated with higher International Prognostic Score (P = .01), abnormal karyotype (P = .05), the presence of excess blasts (P = .01), and age-adjusted bone marrow hypercellularity (P = .04). MDS patients had a display of the acti

SUBMITTER: Epling-Burnette PK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1885518 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature