Killer Cell Activity In Women Research Articles

Natural killer cell activity in women with recurrent miscarriage: Etiology and pregnancy outcome

This study aimed to evaluate whether natural killer (NK) cell activity was associated with the etiology of recurrent miscarriage (RM), and to evaluate the predictive value of NK cell activity for outcomes of following pregnancies in women with RM. Peripheral NK cell activity was measured in 160 non-pregnant women with a history of two or more miscarriages. This activity was compared according to the etiology of RM and to pregnancy outcomes in women who became pregnant. NK cell activity in women with unexplained RM was significantly higher than that in those with known etiologies of RM. NK cell activity in women whose next pregnancies ended in miscarriage of fetuses with a normal chromosome karyotype (MN) was higher than that in those with live births (p<0.05). Women with NK cell activity ≥33% had a higher risk for MN (relative risk 3.4, 95% confidence interval 1.3–8.7). An increase in peripheral NK cell activity was associated with MN. This increase might be involved in the pathophysiology underlying RM.

Natural killer cell activity in women with recurrent miscarriage

Natural killer cell activity in women with recurrent miscarriage

Impact of partial versus whole breast radiation therapy on fatigue, perceived stress, quality of life and natural killer cell activity in women with breast cancer

IntroductionThis pilot study used a prospective longitudinal design to compare the effect of adjuvant whole breast radiation therapy (WBRT) versus partial breast radiation therapy (PBRT) on fatigue, perceived stress, quality of life and natural killer cell activity (NKCA) in women receiving radiation after breast cancer surgery.MethodsWomen (N = 30) with early-stage breast cancer received either PBRT, Mammosite brachytherapy at dose of 34 Gy 10 fractions/5 days, (N = 15) or WBRT, 3-D conformal techniques at dose of 50 Gy +10 Gy Boost/30 fractions, (N = 15). Treatment was determined by the attending oncologist after discussion with the patient and the choice was based on tumor stage and clinical need. Women were assessed prior to initiation of radiation therapy and twice after completion of radiation therapy. At each assessment, blood was obtained for determination of NKCA and the following instruments were administered: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue (FACT-F), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G). Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was used to evaluate group differences in initial outcomes and change in outcomes over time.ResultsFatigue (FACT-F) levels, which were similar prior to radiation therapy, demonstrated a significant difference in trajectory. Women who received PBRT reported progressively lower fatigue; conversely fatigue worsened over time for women who received WBRT. No difference in perceived stress was observed between women who received PBRT or WBRT. Both groups of women reported similar levels of quality of life (FACT-G) prior to initiation of radiation therapy. However, HLM analysis revealed significant group differences in the trajectory of quality of life, such that women receiving PBRT exhibited a linear increase in quality of life over time after completion of radiation therapy; whereas women receiving WBRT showed a decreasing trajectory. NKCA was also similar between therapy groups but additional post hoc analysis revealed that better quality of life significantly predicted higher NKCA regardless of therapy.ConclusionsCompared to WBRT, PBRT results in more rapid recovery from cancer-related fatigue with improved restoration of quality of life after radiation therapy. Additionally, better quality of life predicts higher NKCA against tumor targets, emphasizing the importance of fostering quality of life for women undergoing adjuvant radiation therapy.

In vitro effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist on natural killer cell cytolysis in women with and without endometriosis

Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the in vitro effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist on natural killer cell activity in women with and without endometriosis and to ascertain whether gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist effects on natural killer cell activity are direct or mediated solely through the hypoestrogenic state that they produce in vivo. Study design With use of a chromium 51 release microcytotoxicity assay with K562 target cells, natural killer cell activity was measured after the incubation of mononuclear cells with leuprolide acetate that was obtained from 16 patients with endometriosis and 11 control subjects. Results The cytotoxicity of natural killer cells that were obtained from patients with endometriosis was reduced significantly ( P<.001) with leuprolide. Natural killer cell cytotoxicity from control patients was also significantly decreased ( P = .005) with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist. Natural killer cell cytotoxicity was significantly lower in patients with endometriosis than in control patients ( P = .029). Conclusion These findings suggest a direct immunomodulatory role of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist on natural killer cell activity and confirm previous findings that patients with endometriosis have reduced natural killer cell cytotoxicity.

Effects of exercise intensity on natural killer cell activity in women.

Exercise effects on natural killer cell (NK) activity in men appear to be intensity dependent, but there is very little data in women. We tested the effect of high versus moderate-intensity exercise relative to non-exercising controls on NK cytolytic activity (NK activity) in women using oral contraceptives. Subjects (n = 8) participated in 3 treatments consisting of 25 min of cycle ergometer exercise at 80% (HI-INT) and 40% (MOD-INT) VO2max, and a 25 min control (CON) session in which the subject remained seated on the cycle ergometer, but did not exercise. Blood was obtained prior to exercise, immediately after, and at 90 min and 3 h after exercise. During CON, NK activity gradually increased and cortisol gradually decreased during the approximately 3.5 h experimental period. Relative to CON, HI-INT increased NK activity, %CD56+ (NK) cells, and plasma norepinephrine immediately post exercise (p < or = 0.05). There was also a trend for decreased NK activity at 90 min (p = 0.075). No differences among treatment groups were found by 3 h post exercise. In MOD-INT, there were no differences from CON in any variable at any time. These data suggest that the typical NK response to intensive exercise in men, which consists of a brief increase followed by a more prolonged suppression, also occurs in women using oral contraceptives. However, it is important to use time-matched control measurements in determining this response.

Trait Anxiety and Anticipatory Immune Reactions in Women Receiving Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

We compared peripheral blood cell counts as well as mitogen activity and natural killer-cell activity in women undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer in the hospital prior to chemotherapy with assessment at home 2 days earlier. Patients compared to controls had an increased number of white blood cell counts in the hospital as compared to those at home, mediated by an increased total number of granulocytes. Among patients, those with high compared to low trait anxiety evidenced immune system changes. Total number of monocytes were reduced in patients with high compared to low trait anxiety and natural killer-cell activity tended to be compromised in the high anxiety group. Helper/inducer T-cells isolated from hospital blood samples were lower in patients with high as compared to low trait anxiety, while no difference was observed in samples taken at home. Conditioned nausea was associated with trait anxiety and patients with as compared to without conditioned nausea displayed immune changes similar to changes observed as a function of trait anxiety. State anxiety measured at the hospital did not relate to immune measures. The observed increase in granulocytes is consistent with an interpretation both in terms of conditioning and anticipatory stress. The anticipatory immunosuppression in patients with high compared to low trait anxiety is consistent with the hypothesis that chemotherapy patients may develop conditioned immunosuppression after repeated pairings of treatment-related stimuli with the unconditioned immunosuppressive effect of chemotherapy.

Decreased natural killer cell activity in women with endometriosis.

Natural killer (NK) cell activity is characterized by the spontaneous capacity of lymphoid cells derived from nonimmunized hosts to recognize and lyse certain tumor cell lines, virus-infected cells and transplanted tumor cell lines. Endometriosis is characterized by implantation and proliferation of autologous ectopic tissue in the pelvic cavity. Therefore, we focused on examining NK cell activity in women with endometriosis. NK cell activity in peripheral blood from women with endometriosis was lower than in women without endometriosis. On the basis of this finding, we analyzed also the effect of peripheral sera of women with endometriosis on NK cell activity. In the presence of peripheral sera of women with endometriosis, NK cell activity was significantly suppressed as compared with the sera of women without endometriosis. The suppressive effect of sera of women with endometriosis on NK cell activity showed dose-dependent curves. These studies provide the speculation that natural immunity mediated by NK cells may modulate the development of endometrial implants.

Exogenous growth hormone treatment alters body composition and increases natural killer cell activity in women with impaired endogenous growth hormone secretion

In order to assess the potential relationship between human growth hormone (GH) and body composition (BC) and natural immunity (NI), we measured the effects of exogenous GH on fat weight (FW), fat-free weight (FFW), and the cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK) cells in women with impaired GH secretion. Mean peak serum concentrations of GH in response to l-dopa/arginine stimulation were 6.2 ± 1.1 (SEM) ng/mL in 6 untreated subjects (US) and 5.4 ± 1.5 ng/mL in 6 GH-treated subjects (TS). Moreover, the pretreatment circulating levels of IGF-I were low in both groups (US 684 ± 121 mU/mL and TS 583 ± 83 mU/mL), and they correlated with pretest levels of NK cell activity ( r = .59, P < .05) when both groups were combined. The TS were given 700 μg of human GH IM for an average of 14 days while the US were studied in parallel without GH treatment. As measured by hydrodensitometry or skinfold anthropometry, FW decreased (26.1 ± 6.8 kg to 23.8 ± 6.3 kg, P < .05) and FFW increased (44.9 ± 3.3 kg to 46.2 ± 3.8 kg, P < .05) in the TS. In the US, there were no significant ( P > .05) changes in either FW or FFW. Using a standard 51Cr release assay to measure the specific lytic (SL) activity of NK cells, mean SL activity increased from 24.4 ± 7.0% to 44.1 ± 8.9% ( P < .05) in the TS, whereas levels in the US were not altered significantly ( P > .05). We conclude that daily exogenous GH treatment favorably influences BC and increases NK cell activity in women with an impaired secretion of the hormone.

Body fat in adult man.

Body fat in adult man.