Human NK cell development requires CD56-mediated motility and formation of the developmental synapse.

ABSTRACT: While distinct stages of natural killer (NK) cell development have been defined, the molecular interactions that shape human NK cell maturation are poorly understood. Here we define intercellular interactions between developing NK cells and stromal cells which, through contact-dependent mechanisms, promote the generation of mature, functional human NK cells from CD34(+) precursors. We show that developing NK cells undergo unique, developmental stage-specific sustained and transient interactions with developmentally supportive stromal cells, and that the relative motility of NK cells increases as they move through development in vitro and ex vivo. These interactions include the formation of a synapse between developing NK cells and stromal cells, which we term the developmental synapse. Fin

SUBMITTER: Mace EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4961740 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature