Mac-1 negative NK cells constitute the predominant subset in the livers of mice transvenously injected with tumor cells

Abstract

We evaluated age-related differences in hepatic natural killer (NK) cell phenotypes in juvenile (2-week-old) and adult (8-week-old) C57BL/6(B6) mice, and determined NK cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis in tumor inoculated mice. Juvenile mice had a preponderance of Mac-1(−) NK cells that exhibited significantly higher cytotoxicity levels. The Mac-1(−) NK cell population was the predominant subset in the liver of mice inoculated with the CMT-93 mouse rectum carcinoma cell line, which paralleled a dramatic decrease in the numbers of Mac-1(+) NK cells. The decrease in Mac-1(+) NK cells was driven by an apoptotic pathway.

Keywords::

• Mac-1
• NK cells
• lymphocytes
• liver
• aging

Declaration of interest

This work was supported, in part, by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30872375/H1604), and fully supported by a youth fund from the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University. (JJ2009-11).