IL15 Infusion of Cancer Patients Expands the Subpopulation of Cytotoxic CD56^bright NK Cells and Increases NK-Cell Cytokine Release Capabilities.

ABSTRACT: The cytokine IL15 is required for survival and activation of natural killer (NK) cells as well as expansion of NK-cell populations. Here, we compare the effects of continuous IL15 infusions on NK-cell subpopulations in cancer patients. Infusions affected the CD56^bright NK-cell subpopulation in that the expansion rates exceeded those of CD56^dim NK-cell populations with a 350-fold increase in their total cell numbers compared with 20-fold expansion for the CD56^dim subset. CD56^bright NK cells responded with increased cytokine release to various stimuli, as expected given their immunoregulatory functions. Moreover, CD56^bright NK cells gained the ability to kill various target cells at levels that are typical for CD56^dim NK cells

SUBMITTER: Dubois S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8177006 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature