Objectives. A defined role for NK cells and their activating receptors in autoimmunity has not been clearly established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of the CD3-CD56+ NK cells and their expression of receptors and co-receptors in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic autoimmune disorders. Methods. Thirty subjects with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), 14 with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), 14 with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and 14 healthy donors were studied. The activating receptors NKp46, NKp44, NKp30, NKG2D and DNAM-1, and the co-receptors NTB-A and 2B4 were analyzed by flow cytometry on peripheral blood NK cells. Results. In SSc, AAV and SLE we detected a significant decrease in the percentage of CD3-CD56+ NK cells compared to healthy controls. No differences in the expression of NKp46, NKp44 and NKp30 have been identified. On the contrary, NKG2D and DNAM-1 expression were decreased in SLE, but not in SSc and AAV; NTB-A was decreased in SLE and 2B4 in both SLE and SSc. No differences were detected between active and inactive SLE patients. In SSc, only patients affected by pulmonary hypertension and interstitial lung disease have a low expression of activating receptors, co-receptors and NKp30. Conclusions. These data demonstrate that patients with different systemic autoimmune diseases differ in the expression of activating receptors and co-receptors on CD3-CD56+ NK cells. The down-regulation of receptors and co-receptors in SSc with lung involvement suggests their possible role in this manifestation of the disease.

Cell surface expression of activating receptors and co-receptors on peripheral blood NK cells in systemic autoimmune diseases

PUXEDDU, ILARIA;BOMBARDIERI, STEFANO;MIGLIORINI, PAOLA
2012-01-01

Abstract

Objectives. A defined role for NK cells and their activating receptors in autoimmunity has not been clearly established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of the CD3-CD56+ NK cells and their expression of receptors and co-receptors in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic autoimmune disorders. Methods. Thirty subjects with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), 14 with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), 14 with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and 14 healthy donors were studied. The activating receptors NKp46, NKp44, NKp30, NKG2D and DNAM-1, and the co-receptors NTB-A and 2B4 were analyzed by flow cytometry on peripheral blood NK cells. Results. In SSc, AAV and SLE we detected a significant decrease in the percentage of CD3-CD56+ NK cells compared to healthy controls. No differences in the expression of NKp46, NKp44 and NKp30 have been identified. On the contrary, NKG2D and DNAM-1 expression were decreased in SLE, but not in SSc and AAV; NTB-A was decreased in SLE and 2B4 in both SLE and SSc. No differences were detected between active and inactive SLE patients. In SSc, only patients affected by pulmonary hypertension and interstitial lung disease have a low expression of activating receptors, co-receptors and NKp30. Conclusions. These data demonstrate that patients with different systemic autoimmune diseases differ in the expression of activating receptors and co-receptors on CD3-CD56+ NK cells. The down-regulation of receptors and co-receptors in SSc with lung involvement suggests their possible role in this manifestation of the disease.
2012
Puxeddu, Ilaria; Bongiorini, F; Chimenti, D; Bombardieri, Stefano; Moretta, A; Bottino, C; Migliorini, Paola
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/192843
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