Human Dendritic Cells Activate Resting Natural Killer (NK) Cells and Are Recognized via the NKp30 Receptor by Activated NK Cells

TLDR

Dendritic cells mature during innate responses and then activate antigen‑specific naive T cells. The study proposes that dendritic cells directly regulate NK‑cell expansion and that lysis of immature DCs modulates innate and adaptive immunity. The NK‑activating signal is primarily mediated by the NKp30 receptor, not NKp46 or NKp44. Immature and mature dendritic cells activate resting NK cells, inducing a 2–4 fold expansion, IFN‑γ secretion, and cytolytic activity; the activated NK cells then efficiently kill immature DCs (but spare mature DCs unless HLA‑ABC inhibition is blocked), and this interaction is largely NKp30‑independent, indicating DCs directly control NK cell expansion and modulate innate/adaptive immunity.

Abstract

During the innate response to many inflammatory and infectious stimuli, dendritic cells (DCs) undergo a differentiation process termed maturation. Mature DCs activate antigen-specific naive T cells. Here we show that both immature and mature DCs activate resting human natural killer (NK) cells. Within 1 wk the NK cells increase two– to fourfold in numbers, start secreting interferon (IFN)-γ, and acquire cytolytic activity against the classical NK target LCL721.221. The DC-activated NK cells then kill immature DCs efficiently, even though the latter express substantial levels of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I. Similar results are seen with interleukin (IL)-2–activated NK cell lines and clones, i.e., these NK cells kill and secrete IFN-γ in response to immature DCs. Mature DCs are protected from activated NK lysis, but lysis takes place if the NK inhibitory signal is blocked by a human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A,B,C–specific antibody. The NK activating signal mainly involves the NKp30 natural cytotoxicity receptor, and not the NKp46 or NKp44 receptor. However, both immature and mature DCs seem to use a NKp30 independent mechanism to act as potent stimulators for resting NK cells. We suggest that DCs are able to control directly the expansion of NK cells and that the lysis of immature DCs can regulate the afferent limb of innate and adaptive immunity.