Abstract
TGF-β is known to play a major role for the reduced NKG2D expression seen in cancer patients. However, the mechanisms for reduced TGF-β-induced down-regulation of NKG2D are unclear. In this study, we observed that IL-2/IL-18 increased the NKG2D expression in the TGF-β treated NK cell line in a dose-dependent manner. Incubation with the JNK inhibitor SP600125 inhibited the NKG2D expression induced by IL-2/IL-18 in the TGF-β treated human NK cell line. Moreover, the NK cytotoxicity assay showed that the reduced NK cytotoxicity by TGF-β was recovered by IL-2/IL-18 treatment. The results indicate that IL-2/IL-18 strongly prevented the TGF-β-induced NKG2D down-regulation in NK cells via the JNK pathway. Taken together, the protected expression of NKG2D by IL-2/IL-18 provides insight into the mechanism of NKG2D regulation and it also supplied useful information for creating a novel therapeutic approach to treat TGF-β-secreting cancer cells.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 39-45 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Cellular Immunology |
Volume | 242 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2006 Jul |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- IL-18
- IL-2
- NK cells
- NKG2D
- TGF-β
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology