Cytotoxic potential of decidual NK cells and CD8+ T cells awakened by infections

Canine CD8 T cells showing NK cytotoxic activity express mRNAs for NK cell-associated surface molecules.

Natural killer (NK) cells have been considered to be a group of lymphocytes lacking clonally distributed receptors for antigens typical of T cells and B cells. In some mammalian species, including humans, a subpopulation of CD8(+) peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) exhibits NK activity. This NK subpopulation has not been well characterized in mammals and its characterization is particularly po...

Direct activation of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes by dendritic cells

Recent experiments (11-13) have shown that antigen-specific, CD8+, CD4- T lymphocytes can be induced to proliferate and become killer cells in the absence of a second population of "helper" CD8-, CD4+ cells. We have studied early events in the activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets in the primary mixed leukocyte reaction. Dendritic cells are a major if not essential accessory cell for the a...

Tissue-Specific Education of Decidual NK Cells

During human pregnancy, fetal trophoblast cells invade the decidua and remodel maternal spiral arteries to establish adequate nutrition during gestation. Tissue NK cells in the decidua (dNK) express inhibitory NK receptors (iNKR) that recognize allogeneic HLA-C molecules on trophoblast. Where this results in excessive dNK inhibition, the risk of pre-eclampsia or growth restriction is increased....

Decidual NK Cells Alter In Vitro First

CD26+ Cord Blood Mononuclear Cells Significantly Produce B, T, and NK Cells

Background: Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is an alternative source of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), used in Leukemia treatment. CD26+ cells, a fraction of CD34 positive cells, are a major population of UCB cells which negatively regulate the in vivo homing and engraftment of HSCs. CD26 is highly expressed in various cells such as HSCs, immune cells, fibroblasts, and epithelial ce...