Immune Netw.  2006 Mar;6(1):6-12. 10.4110/in.2006.6.1.6.

IL-2-enhanced NK Cell Cytotoxicity is Regulated by Adiponectin from Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal Axis

• Kim K
• Yang Y

• KMID: 2167983
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4110/in.2006.6.1.6

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis is an important regulator for the body's stress response. As a primary stress responsive system, HPA-axis secretes various neurotransmitters, hormones, and cytokines, which regulates the immune system. Natural killer (NK) cell which is plays an important role in the innate immune response, is specially decreased their numbers and loose cytolytic activity in response to stress. However, the effect of HPA-axis secreted proteins on NK cell activity has not been defined. Herein, we studied the effect of adrenal secreted adiponectin on NK cell cytotoxicity. Adiponectin which is well-known metabolic control protein, plays important roles in various diseases, including hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory disorders, and cancer.
METHODS
Signal sequence trap was used to find stress novel secretory protein from HPA-axis. Selected adiponectin was treated mouse mature primary NK cells and then examined the effect of adiponectin to NK cell cytotoxicity and cytokine expression level.
RESULTS
We found that adiponectin which is secreted from adrenal gland, suppress IL-2 induced NK cell cytotoxicity. And also investigated cytolytic cytokines are suppressed by adiponectin.
CONCLUSION
These data suggest that adiponectin inhibites NK cell cytotoxicity via suppression of cytotoxicity related target gene.

Keyword

Adiponectin; HPA-axis; natural killer cell

MeSH Terms

Adiponectin*
Adrenal Glands
Animals
Axis, Cervical Vertebra*
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cytokines
Hypertension
Immune System
Immunity, Innate
Interleukin-2
Killer Cells, Natural*
Mice
Neurotransmitter Agents
Protein Sorting Signals
Adiponectin
Cytokines
Interleukin-2
Neurotransmitter Agents
Protein Sorting Signals