Natural Killer cells present in gut mucosa as potential ADCC effector cells

Abstract

Background Data from the RV144 HIV vaccine trial showed a moderate protection from HIV infection in the absence of neutralizing antibodies or CTL activity. In contrast, all vaccinees mounted robust HIV-specific binding antibodies, that may have provided some level of protection through their capacity to recruit antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). The capacity of an antibody to recruit ADCC relies on its ability to interact with the Fc-receptor, FCgRIII (CD16), expressed on Natural Killer (NK) cells. However, little is known about innate immune effector cells present within mucosa, and whether they have the capacity to be harnessed by ADCC inducing antibodies should they be elicited by a vaccine. Here we hypothesized that abundant numbers of CD16+ NK cells line the gut mucosa, providing a robust effector arm that could be harnessed by ADCC inducing antibodies. Methods The frequency and function of CD16+ cells in the colon was assessed by flow cytometry following enzymatic digestion of intestinal resections from HIV-uninfected subjects.