TGF-β affects development and differentiation of human natural killer cell subsets

Eur J Immunol. 2010 Aug;40(8):2289-95. doi: 10.1002/eji.200939910.

Abstract

Human peripheral blood NK cells may be divided into two main subsets: CD56(bright)CD16(-) and CD56(dim)CD16(+). Since TGF-β is known to influence the development of many leukocyte lineages, its effects on NK cell differentiation either from human CD34(+)Lin(-) hematopoietic progenitor/stem cells in vitro or from peripheral blood NK cells were investigated. TGF-β represses development of NK cells from CD34(+) progenitors and inhibits differentiation of CD16(+) NK cells. Moreover, TGF-β also results in conversion of a minor fraction of CD56(bright)CD16(+) cells found in peripheral blood into CD56(bright)CD16(-) cells, highlighting a possible role of the former as a developmental intermediate and of TGF-β in influencing the genesis of NK subsets found in blood.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Blocking / pharmacology
  • Antigens, CD / biosynthesis
  • Antigens, CD / genetics
  • Antigens, Differentiation / biosynthesis
  • Antigens, Differentiation / genetics
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Cell Differentiation* / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation* / immunology
  • Cell Lineage / drug effects
  • Cell Lineage / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Fetal Blood / cytology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Humans
  • Killer Cells, Natural / drug effects
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / pathology
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / drug effects
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism*
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / pathology
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / immunology
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Blocking
  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • Cytokines
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta