The immunosuppressive agent FK506 enhances the cytolytic activity of inhibitory natural killer cell receptor (CD94/NKG2A)-expressing CD8 T cells

Transplantation. 2005 Dec 27;80(12):1813-5. doi: 10.1097/01.tp.0000188695.72228.e4.

Abstract

Tacrolimus (FK506) is a potent immunosuppressive agent that inhibit transcription of cytokines such as IL-2 in T cells. The C-type lectin superfamily inhibitory NKR CD94/NKG2A-expressing cells can monitor the global status of HLA class I on tumor and leukemic cells through the recognition of HLA-E and induce cytolytic attack without an inhibitory signal against HLA class I-decreased target cells. We found that there was no effect of FK506 on the expansion of inhibitory NKR CD94/NKG2A-expressing T cells from granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized peripheral blood mononuclear cells (G-PBMCs). However, cytolytic activity levels of purified CD94-expressing cells from 7-day cultures with FK506 were much higher than those from 7-day cultures without FK506. These data suggested that FK506 did not inhibit cytolytic activities of inhibitory NKR-expressing T cells and that there was a possibility of cytolytic activities being enhanced through the induction of cytotoxic molecules such as NKG2D and granzyme during a seven-day culture with FK506.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Interleukin-15 / pharmacology
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D / immunology*
  • Tacrolimus / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Interleukin-15
  • KLRD1 protein, human
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D
  • Tacrolimus