BCG stimulates CD16^lo natural killer (NK) cells to produce interferon (IFN)-γ in a TLR2-dependent manner.

Abstract

<p>Human neonatal NK cells were isolated from umbilical cord blood, stimulated with Bacille Calmette Guérin (BCG) overnight (in the presence of Brefeldin-A for the last 4 hours), stained with a vital dye (L/D Aqua), and intracellularly stained for CD3, CD16, CD56, and interferon (IFN)-γ for flow cytometry analysis. In Fig 4a-e, one representative experiment is shown. (a) gating strategy, (b) unstimulated control, (c) BCG stimulated, (d) BCG stimulated and pre-incubated with an isotype control antibody, (e) BCG stimulated and pre-incubated with a Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 blocking antibody. (f) Summary data for <i>n</i> = 5 independent experiments. Bars are mean values and error bars are S.D. ^† p = 0.06, BCG+TLR2 blocking IgG vs. BCG+isotype control IgG.</p