Involvement of natural killer cells in endogenous biological retranslation

Abstract

Analysis of functional properties of natural killer cells displayed in reactions of natural cytotoxicity and noncytotoxic regulatory intercellular interactions suggests that this population of lymphocytes is involved in endogenous biological retranslation. In the immune system, retranslation is the production of regulatory immunoactive cytokines by a cell, cellular complex, or functional complex. The substances produced are identical to those affecting these structures. Various forms of endogenous biological retranslation in humans and higher animals, as well as its phylogenetic and ontogenetic manifestations (on the basis of noncytotoxic regulatory interactions of natural killer cells with cells of lymphoid or nonlymphoid nature) during evolution of the complex of immunobiological surveillance are considered. The axiomatic basis ef retranslation realized through the system of natural cytotoxicity was established. Prospects for application of the methodology of endogenous biological retranslation to experimental and clinical studies of functioning of natural killer cells are considered. Key words: natural killer cells, endogenous biological retranslationThe system of natural cytotoxicity (NCT) functions as a universal mechanism controlling proliferation and differentiation of cells in humans and higher animals [16,52,58,72]. In evolution, this system is considered to be the most ancient factor of immunobiological surveillance [38,43,57]. The factors mentioned above account for the increasing interest in this cellular phenomenon [43,50,58,59,66,76,80,1131.The resistance to viral infections and tumor growth [55,58,80,113], as well as the efficiency of processes of tissues rejection and regeneration [86,92,112] and elimination of functionally aged cell forms [12], are thought to be related to the level of activity of natural killer (NK) cells.Laboratory of lmmunochemistry, N. F. Gamalya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Russian Academy of Medical Scienc~, Moscow NK cells produce a wide range of ilnnlunoactive cytokines [25,42,67,78,84,85,95]; interact with lymphoid and nonlymphoid cells [28,29,34,35,64, 81,90,1051; and exert direct cytotoxic effect on T and B lymphocytes, several subpopulations of bone marrow cells, adherent peritoneal cells, and transformed fibroblasts [50,56,68,91]. NK cells compose an important element of regulation of helnatopoiesis, lymphopoiesis, and immunogenesis [40,54,56, 64,1001. Blockade of maturation of NCT effectors, defects of lymphocytic enzyme systems responsible for programming and realization of several stages of the lytic cycle, and changes in the regulatory effects of neuroendocrine factors result in the development of immune deficiency of NK cells. This is accompanied by violation of functional interrelations in the immune system, activation of autoaggression lnechanisms, and formation of total immune deft-0007-4888/98/0008-0751520.00 '~q999 Kiuwer Acddemic/Ph~mm~ Ptddish.r,