Characterization of natural killer cells in the blood and airways of cynomolgus macaques during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and kills more than 1.5 million people each year.

Methods

We examine the frequency and function of NK cells in the blood and airways over the course of Mtb infection in a TB macaque model and demonstrate differences in NK marker expression between the two compartments. Flow cytometry and intracellular cytokine staining were utilized to identify NK cell subsets (expressing NKG2A, CD56, or CD16) and function (IL-10, TNF, IL-2, IFN-g, IL-17, and CD107a).

Results

Blood and airway NK cell frequencies were similar during infection though there were differences in subset populations between blood and airway. Increased functional (cytokine/CD107a) parameters were observed in airway NK cells during the

SUBMITTER: Diedrich CR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9825635 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature