Regulation of IFN-γ production following 2B4 activation in human NK cells

IFN-gamma is a cytokine that regulates various functions of the immune system. The major producers of IFN-gamma are T cells and NK cells. 2B4 is a novel activating receptor expressed on all human NK cells, a subset of CD8+ T cells, monocytes and basophils. Activation of human NK cells through surface 2B4 enhances NK cell cytolytic function and secretion of IFN-gamma. We have examined the regulation of IFN-gamma production by the human NK cell line YT upon activation through surface 2B4. Our data specifically recognizes 2B4, induces transcriptional activation of IFN-gamma. Partial inhibition of transcription did not prevent the transcriptional upregulation of IFN-gamma. S1 nuclease protection analysis indicated that transcriptional activation as well as mRNA stability may account for the increased production of IFN-gamma by human NK cells following 2B4 stimulations.