Objective: To investigate the effects of simulated weightlessness on the activity of human natural killer (NK) cells induced by interleukin 2 (IL-2).
Methods: Primary human NK cells were cultured under simulated weightlessness condition. The viability of NK cells was determined by CCK-8 assay; cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry combined with annexin V-FITC/PI staining; the level of interferon γ (IFN-γ) was examined by ELISA; the mRNA levels of IL-12 receptor genes were detected by reverse transcription PCR.
Results: Compared with control cells cultured in normal gravity, IL-2-induced cell proliferation rate of NK cells cultured in simulated weightlessness decreased by 13.6% and 31% at 24 and 48 hours, respectively; the cell apoptotic rate increased by 8% and 19%; IL-2-induced IFN-γ production was inhibited by 25.2% and 47.8%; the cytotoxicity of NK cells induced by IL-2 was reduced by 7% and 18%; IL-12-induced IFN-γ production was suppressed by 21.8% and 58.8% in IL-2 pretreated cells at 24 and 48 hours, respectively. In addition, the mRNA levels of IL-12 β1 and β2 receptor genes were significantly down-regulated in the cells cultured in simulated weightlessness.
Conclusion: Simulated weightlessness can inhibit the proliferation of NK cells induced by IL-2, promote NK cell apoptosis, impair IL-2-induced IFN-γ production and cytotoxicity in NK cells, and inhibit IL-12-induced IFN-γ production through down-regulating IL-12 receptor gene expression in NK cells.