Significant differences in natural killer cell activity in children according to age and sex.

Abstract

Summary: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 45 children, aged 1 to 19 years were evaluated for natural killer cell cytotoxic activity against K-562 erythroleukemic cells, The results of a 51Cr release assay demonstrated that the NK cell activity of normal children is dependent on age and sex. Younger females, aged 1 to 9 years, were more reactive than elder females aged between 10 and 19 years (P<0.001). Males aged 1 to 19 years were less reactive than adults (0.02 < P < 0.05). Among children, the levels of NK cell activity were significantly greater in females than in males (0.001 < P < 0.01). In con trast, among elder children, the levels of NK cell activity were significantly greater in males than in females (0.01 < P < 0.02). The NK cell activity of elder female children was 60% and 59% that of the elder male children, at the two E : T ratios of 50:1 and 100:1, respectively.

Natural killer cell activity in adolescents with major depression

“…No significant differences were found between patients and matched controls in paired and group comparisons. These findings are in contrast to findings of significantly lower NK cell activity in depressed adults previously reported by our group (Kronfol etal 1989) (Horikoshi 1985). In the current study, age significantly correlated with NK cell activity.…”

Natural killer cell activity in adolescents with major depression

“…These findings are in contrast to findings of significantly lower NK cell activity in depressed adults previously reported by our group (Kronfol etal 1989) and others (Mohi et al 1987;Nerozzi etal 1989;Irwin et al 1990). They do, however, support work by other investigators (Schleifer et al 1989) (Horikoshi 1985). In the current study, age significantly correlated with NK cell activity.…”

Sex hormone influence on female-biased autoimmune diseases hints at puberty as an important factor in pathogenesis

“…Meanwhile, relative abundance data shows that there is no significant difference in NK cells between sexes in adolescence ( 28 , 29 ). A study using a rat model reinforces both studies, noting the increase in female lung tumor metastases as a result of decrease in the antitumor function of NK cells ( 30 ). While these studies, like most, focused on the antitumor and antiviral capacities of NK cells, the immunoregulatory effects of NK cells like NK-DC crosstalk and antigen presentation have yet to be described in detail during puberty.…”

“…Adolescent girls have significantly less monocytes than adolescent boys but show similar maximal cytotoxic capacity when stimulated, and the significant sexual disparity is lost upon adulthood ( 28 , 29 ). A small study from 1985 states that natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity decreases from childhood through adolescence to adulthood for females while males experience the opposite ( 30 ). Meanwhile, relative abundance data shows that there is no significant difference in NK cells between sexes in adolescence ( 28 , 29 ).…”