Differential effects of Cbl and 70Z/3 Cbl on T cell receptor-induced phospholipase Cγ-1 activity

AbstractWe demonstrate that the differential effects Cbl and oncogenic 70Z/3 Cbl have on Ca2+/Ras-sensitive NF-AT reporters is partially due to their opposing ability to regulate phospholipase Cγ1 (PLCγ1) activation as demonstrated by analysis of the activation of an NF-AT reporter construct and PLCγ1-mediated inositol phospholipid (PI) hydrolysis. Cbl over-expression resulted in reduced T cell receptor-induced PI hydrolysis, in the absence of any effect on PLCγ1 tyrosine phosphorylation. In contrast, expression of 70Z/3 Cbl led to an increase in basal and OKT3-induced PLCγ1 phosphorylation and PI hydrolysis. These data indicate that Cbl and 70Z/3 Cbl differentially regulate PLCγ1 phosphorylation and activation. The implications of these data on the mechanism of Cbl-mediated signaling regulation are discussed

Anti-West Nile virus activity of in vitro expanded human primary natural killer cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Natural Killer (NK) cells are a crucial component of the host innate immune system with anti-viral and anti-cancer properties. However, the role of NK cells in West Nile virus (WNV) infection is controversial, with reported effects ranging from active suppression of virus to no effect at all. It was previously shown that K562-mb15-41BBL (K562D2) cells, which express IL-15 and 4-1BBL on the K562 cell surface, were able to expand and activate human primary NK cells of normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The expanded NK cells were tested for their ability to inhibit WNV infection <it>in vitro</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Co-culture of PBMC with irradiated K562D2 cells expanded the NK cell number by 2-3 logs in 2-3 weeks, with more than 90% purity; upregulated NK cell surface activation receptors; downregulated inhibitory receptors; and boosted interferon gamma (IFN-γ) production by ~33 fold. The expanded NK (D2NK) cell has strong natural killing activity against both K562 and Vero cells, and killed the WNV infected Vero cells through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). The D2NK cell culture supernatants inhibited both WNV replication and WNV induced cytopathic effect (CPE) in Vero cells when added before or after infection. Anti-IFN-γ neutralizing antibody blocked the NK supernatant-mediated anti-WNV effect, demonstrating a noncytolytic activity mediated through IFN-γ.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Co-culture of PBMC with K562D2 stimulatory cells is an efficient technique to prepare large quantities of pure and active NK cells, and these expanded NK cells inhibited WNV infection of Vero cells through both cytolytic and noncytolytic activities, which may imply a potential role of NK cells in combating WNV infection.</p