Aim: To observe whether MHC class I chain-related antigen A (MICA) was expressed on monocytes, immature dendritic cells (iDCs), and mature dendritic cells (mDCs), and to study effect of up-regulation of MICA expression by DCs on biologic activity of NK cells.
Methods: MICA expression on monocytes, iDCs, or mDCs stimulated with LPS, TNF-α, CD40L, IL-15 or IFN-α was detected by flow cytometry. Next CD69 expression, degranuation, and IFN-γ production of NK cells stimulated with MICA-positive mDCs were analyzed. Lastly recombinant NKG2D/Fc fusion protein and anti-IL-12 monoclonal antibody was respectively added into culture systems to analyze whether these reagents affected the interaction between DCs and NK cells.
Results: MICA was not expressed on monocytes, and expressed on iDCs at low level. LPS, TNF-α, CD40L had no influences on MICA expression on mDCs, but IFN-α, IL-15 up-regulated MICA expression on mDCs. MICA-positive mDCs promoted CD69 expression, IFN-γ production, and killing K562 cells by NK cells. NKG2D/Fc inhibited both cytotcoxicity and IFN-γ secretion, whereas IL-12 antibody only inhibited IFN-γ secretion of NK cells.
Conclusion: MICA expression on DCs is regulated by relevant factors in microenvironment. DCs with high level of MICA expression can up-regulate biologic activity of NK cells.