Flow Cytometric Evaluation of Surface CD56 Expression on Activated Natural Killer Cells as Functional Marker

Abstract

: Surface CD56 is the most important cell marker for defining NK cells. However, the relationship between the expression of surface CD56 and NK cell activity has not yet been elucidated in detail. Thirteen healthy volunteers were enrolled in the present study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated with rIL-2 or rIL-12 (1, 10, 100 U/mL) for 18 h at 37 C. After incubation, surface CD56 expression on NK cells was evaluated using a flow cytometric analysis. A colorimetric-based lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay was used for experiments on cytotoxicity. IFN-γ mRNA gene expression was quantified by real-time PCR. The expression level of surface CD56 on NK cells, cytotoxicity, and IFN-γ mRNA gene expression were significantly increased by the rIL-2 and rIL-12 stimulations. In addition, a positive correlation was found between surface CD56 expression and cytotoxic activity or IFN-γ mRNA gene expression. We revealed that the quantification of surface CD56 expression was applicable to the evaluation of cytotoxicity and IFN-γ production in activated NK cells. These results suggest that the measurement of surface CD56 expression represent an easy and rapidly reproducible technique to evaluate the activated state of NK cells and monitor NK cell activity in immunotherapy.

Cordycepin Enhances the Cytotoxicity of Human Natural Killer Cells against Cancerous Cells

“…37) IFNG also increases NK cell cytotoxicity and promotes the expression of activating receptors on the surface of NK cells, such as NKp46 and NKG2D, promoting the recognition and killing of cancerous cells. 38) Additionally, the quantification of CD56 expression on the surface of activated NK cells was found to be correlated to the evaluation of cytotoxicity and IFNG production, 39) which is applicable with the maintaining of surface CD56 expression in this study. TNF, the homodimer proinflammatory cytokine, was also upregulated by cordycepin to augment NK 92 MI cytotoxicity.…”

Antibody Conjugates for Sarcoma Therapy: How Far along Are We?

“…CD56, also called Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule (NCAM), is a homophilic binding glycoprotein present on the surface of neurons and glia where it has a prominent role in neuronal adhesion and migration ability, neurite outgrowth, synapse formation and synaptic plasticity [51,52]. CD56 can also be found in hematopoietic cells, above all in natural killer cells, where it acts as an adhesion molecule [53]. CD56 is over-expressed in different cancer types, like neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and most of the STS, Wilms tumor, acute myeloid leukemia, glioma, and astrocytoma, as well as in several carcinomas [54][55][56].…”

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis presenting with annular erythema multiforme‑like eruptions in a patient with angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma: A case report

“…The bone marrow examination indicated hemophagocytosis and abnormal lymphocytes. The level of soluble cluster of differentiation (CD)25 was increased (>44,000 pg/ml; normal <6,400 pg/ml; test result from Beijing Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China) (15), and natural killer (NK) cell activity was normal (25.38%; normal ≥15.11%; test result from Beijing Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China) (16). Therefore, there was a clear indication of HLH.…”