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Rat hepatic natural killer cells (pit cells) express mRNA and protein similar to in vitro interleukin-2 activated spleen natural killer cells.

par Luo, D;Vanderkerken, K;Chen, M.C.;Vermijlen, David ;Asosingh, K;Willems, E;Triantis, V;Eizirik, Decio L. ;Kuppen, P J;Wisse, E
Référence Cellular immunology, 210, 1, page (41-48)
Publication Publié, 2001

Article révisé par les pairs

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Résumé :

Pit cells are liver-specific natural killer (NK) cells that can be divided into high- (HD) and low-density (LD) subpopulations. The characteristics of pit cells were further investigated in this report. LD and HD pit cells express the specific NK-activation markers gp42, CD25, and ANK44 antigen. LD cells and IL-2-activated NK cells have a high mRNA expression of perforin, granzymes, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. LD pit cells, unlike spleen NK cells, have a weak response to IL-2 with regard to proliferation, cytotoxicity, and production of NK-related molecules. The characteristics of HD cells are intermediate between LD and spleen NK cells. These results show that pit cells, especially LD cells, possess characteristics similar to IL-2-activated NK cells. This is the first evidence on a molecular level that pit cells could be considered in vivo activated NK cells.