Abstract
We have examined the recovery of natural killer (NK) cell function in seven recipients of MHC matched T cell depleted bone marrow allografts. NK cell activity against the erythroblastoid line K562 recovers 2-3 weeks after transplantation. Recipients also show a high level of killing of the T cell target HSB2 and of EBV transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (B-LCL). This activity peaks at 4-6 weeks and declines towards normal by 12-14 weeks after transplantation. Although killing of HSB2 and B-LCL is usually the property of activated NK cells, few of these patients had any obvious 'trigger' of such activation: none had CMV infection, there were no episodes of graft rejection, and only two patients had mild and transient grade I graft versus host disease (GvHD). We conclude that T cell depletion does not affect the reconstitution of NK cell function and that NK cell activation occurs after T depleted bone marrow transplantation even in the absence of clinically detectable GvHD, graft rejection or CMV infection.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 413-420 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | British Journal of Haematology |
Volume | 62 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1986 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Hematology