@article{Ursaciuc_Surcel_Huicćƒ_Ciotaru_Dobre_Pí®rvu_Cirimbei_Mischianu_Bratu_Isvoranu_Brćƒtucu_2016, title={CD56dim/CD56bright NK cell subpopulations and CD16/CD57 expression correlated with tumor development stages}, volume={2}, url={https://seejim.eu/index.php/seejim/article/view/seejim.2016.20009}, DOI={10.3889/seejim.2016.20009}, abstractNote={<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>NK cells are characterized by cytotoxic activity against tumor cells and CD3-CD16+CD56+ phenotype. Two distinct subpopulations of NK cells were characterized in the peripheral blood: NK-CD56<sup>dim</sup> representing over 95% of NK cells and involved in antitumor cytotoxicity, and NK-CD56<sup>bright</sup> representing approximately 10% of NK cells and involved in secretion of cytokines.</p><p><strong>AIM: </strong>The aim of the study was to compare the presence of NK-CD56<sup>dim</sup>/NK-CD56<sup>bright</sup> subpopulations and their CD16/CD57 expression in peripheral blood NK cells during the particular development stages of malignancy: primary tumor (PT), lymph node invasion (LNI) and distant sites metastases (Mt).<strong> </strong></p><p><strong>MATERIAL AND METHODS: </strong>We have analyzed by flow-cytometry peripheral blood samples from total 36 cancer patients: 24 patients with PT, 6 patients with LNI and 6 patients with Mt.</p><p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>The presence of the overall NK cells showed no significant variation between patients in different stages of tumor development. The phenotype analysis showed that CD16+ and/or CD57+ cells were lower in LNI patients compared to PT or Mt patients. Double-positive CD16+CD57+ cells were found decreased in patients with Mt, compared to patients with PT. During the stages of tumor development, NK-CD56<sup>bright</sup> subpopulation increased progressively (7% in PT patients, 13% in LNI patients, 65% in Mt patients), whereas NK-CD56<sup>dim</sup> subpopulation gradually decreased (92%, 86%, and 35% respectively). CD16/CD57 expression decreased in NK-CD56<sup>dim</sup> and increased in NK-CD56<sup>bright</sup> cells over the three studied stages.</p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>Our results show changes in NK cells characteristics during tumor development: reversal of NK-CD56<sup>dim</sup>/NK-CD56<sup>bright</sup>distribution and modification of CD16/CD57 expression. Both types of changes can concur in reducing the efficiency of NK cell activity in patients with progressive tumors.<p> </p>}, number={1}, journal={South East European Journal of Immunology}, author={Ursaciuc, Cornel and Surcel, Mihaela and Huicćƒ, Radu and Ciotaru, Dan and Dobre, Maria and Pí®rvu, Ioana Ruxandra and Cirimbei, Ciprian and Mischianu, Dan and Bratu, Ovidiu and Isvoranu, GheorghiÅ£a and Brćƒtucu, Eugen}, year={2016}, month={May}, pages={1–5} }