Glucocorticoid dysregulation of natural killer cell function through epigenetic modification.

ABSTRACT: It is well-established that psychological distress reduces natural killer cell activity (NKCA) and dysregulates cytokine balance. This may be mediated by stress-induced release of glucocorticoids, which have broad effects on the immune system, including the suppression of NKCA and alteration of cytokine production. The purpose of this study was to evaluate epigenetic mechanisms that may underlie the effect of glucocorticoids on NK cells, using the human NK cell line, NK92. Treatment of NK92 cells with the synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, at a concentration of 10⁻⁷M, produced a significant reduction in NKCA. Glucocorticoid inhibition was a consequence of not only a reduced capacity of the NK cells to bind to tumor targets but also a reduced production of granule constituents (perfor

SUBMITTER: Krukowski K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2989339 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature