Modulation of Natural Killer (NK) Receptors on NK (CD3−/CD56+), T (CD3+/CD56−) and NKT-like (CD3+/CD56+) Cells after Heart Transplantation

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome is associated with increased peripheral blood natural killer and natural killer T-like granzymes, perforin, and T-helper-type 1 pro-inflammatory cytokines

“…13 One of the very few studies on NKT-like cells in solid organ transplantation showed an increase in NK cells but no alteration in T or NKT-like cell numbers in patients after heart transplantation, although there was evidence of increased expression of the cytotoxicity effector molecule CD244 on T and NKT-like cells. 7 Similarly, we found an increase in NK cells in BOS patients, although in contrast, we found an increase in NKT-like cells and a trend for an increase in T cells in stable patients. Some of these differences may have been due to a variety of causes, such as the much longer post-transplant times of the heart transplant group (36 vs 67 months after transplant for the lung and heart transplant groups, respectively).…”

“…One recent study showed an increase in NK cells in heart transplant patients, whereas the numbers of T and NKT-like cells were similar to controls. 7 However, the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines, granzymes, and perforin expressed by NK and NKT-like cells is poorly defined in human lung transplant patients undergoing chronic rejection.…”

Changes to the Natural Killer Cell Repertoire after Therapeutic Hepatitis B DNA Vaccination

“…This up-regulation may contribute to increasing NK survival and/or CD8 specific responses. One can speculate that the later increase may be due to continuous stimulation of NK cells and to homeostasis mechanisms as shown in other models [29]. Modifications to NK cell receptors could be important to the outcome of HBV infection, either by tuning the T cell response or promoting pathways for liver damage [30].…”

Increased natural killer T‐like cells are a major source of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and granzymes in lung transplant recipients

“…One of the very few studies on NKT‐like cells in solid organ transplant showed an increase in NK cells but no alteration in T or NKT‐like cell numbers in patients following heart transplantation 9 although there was evidence of increased expression of the cytotoxicity effector molecule CD244 on T and NKT‐like cells. In contrast, we found an increase in NKT‐like cells, a trend for an increase in T cells and a decrease in NK cells in stable lung transplant group.…”

“…The role of NKT‐like cells in solid organ transplant, particularly human lung transplant, is not well defined 7 . One recent study showed an increase in NK cells in heart transplant patients whereas numbers of T and NKT‐like cells were similar to controls 9 . The mechanism of NKT cell‐mediated transplant tolerance has been shown to be dependent on anti‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐10 10 and transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) 11 in animal transplant models.…”