Authors were supported by the German Cancer Aid (Max Eder Nachwuchsgruppe, Deutsche Krebshilfe; EU), the LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt (EU, ST) funded by the Hessian Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts, Germany (III L 4- 518/17.004) and by the "Alfred- und Angelika Gutermuth-Stiftung", Frankfurt, Germany (EU). BJ was funded by a Mildred Scheel postdoctoral scholarship from the Dr. Mildred Scheel Foundation for Cancer Research. ST was founded by a GO-IN postdoctoral fellowship (PCOFUND-GA-2011-291776). The authors thank Becton Dickinson (BD) for providing the FACSCanto II and Canto10c Flow Cytometry Analyzers used in this study.

This study was carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the local ethics committee of the University of Frankfurt.
1. Culturing of K562 Cells
<ol>
	<li>Culture K562 cells in R10 media (RPMI1640 with glutamine medium, 1% penicillin/streptomycin, 10% fetal calf serum) at a density of 0.5-1 x 106 cells per ml in a cell culture flask at 37 &#176;C and 5% CO2.</li>
	<li>Harvest K562 Cells 24 hr Before the Start of a New Experiment.
	<ol>
		<li>Remove the cell culture flask containin...

<ol>
	<li>Watzl, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=How+to+trigger+a+killer:+modulation+of+natural+killer+cell+reactivity+on+many+levels.">How to trigger a killer: modulation of natural killer cell reactivity on many levels.</a> Adv Immunol. 124, 137-170 (2014).</li><li>Khaznadar, Z., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Defective+NK+Cells+in+Acute+Myeloid+Leukemia+Patients+at+Diagnosis+Are+Associated+with+Blast+Transcriptional+Signatures+of+Immune+Evasion.">Defective NK Cells in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients at Diagnosis Are Associated with Blast Transcriptional Signatures of Immune Evasion.</a> J Immunol. 195 (6), 2580-2590 (2015).</li><li>Pical-Izard, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reconstitution+of+natural+killer+cells+in+HLA-matched+HSCT+after+reduced-intensity+conditioning:+impact+on+clinical+outcome.">Reconstitution of natural killer cells in HLA-matched HSCT after reduced-intensity conditioning: impact on clinical outcome.</a> Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 21 (3), 429-439 (2015).</li><li>Ahlenstiel, G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Early+changes+in+natural+killer+cell+function+indicate+virologic+response+to+interferon+therapy+for+hepatitis+C.">Early changes in natural killer cell function indicate virologic response to interferon therapy for hepatitis C.</a> Gastroenterology. 141 (4), 1231-1239 (2011).</li><li>Porrata, L. F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Early+lymphocyte+recovery+predicts+superior+survival+after+autologous+stem+cell+transplantation+in+non-Hodgkin+lymphoma:+a+prospective+study.">Early lymphocyte recovery predicts superior survival after autologous stem cell transplantation in non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a prospective study.</a> Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 14 (7), 807-816 (2008).</li><li>Silva, I. P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reversal+of+NK-cell+exhaustion+in+advanced+melanoma+by+Tim-3+blockade.">Reversal of NK-cell exhaustion in advanced melanoma by Tim-3 blockade.</a> Cancer Immunol Res. 2 (5), 410-422 (2014).</li><li>Kiessling, R., Klein, E., Wigzell, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term="Natural"+killer+cells+in+the+mouse.+I.+Cytotoxic+cells+with+specificity+for+mouse+Moloney+leukemia+cells.+Specificity+and+distribution+according+to+genotype.">"Natural" killer cells in the mouse. I. Cytotoxic cells with specificity for mouse Moloney leukemia cells. Specificity and distribution according to genotype.</a> Eur J Immunol. 5 (2), 112-117 (1975).</li><li>Somanchi, S. S., Senyukov, V. V., Denman, C. J., Lee, D. 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(48), (2011).</li><li>Mariani, E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chemokine+production+by+natural+killer+cells+from+nonagenarians.">Chemokine production by natural killer cells from nonagenarians.</a> Eur J Immunol. 32 (6), 1524-1529 (2002).</li><li>Reefman, E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cytokine+secretion+is+distinct+from+secretion+of+cytotoxic+granules+in+NK+cells.">Cytokine secretion is distinct from secretion of cytotoxic granules in NK cells.</a> J Immunol. 184 (9), 4852-4862 (2010).</li><li>Jacobs, B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=NK+Cell+Subgroups,+Phenotype,+and+Functions+After+Autologous+Stem+Cell+Transplantation.">NK Cell Subgroups, Phenotype, and Functions After Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation.</a> Front. Immunol. 6, 583 (2015).</li><li>Alter, G., Malenfant, J. M., Altfeld, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=CD107a+as+a+functional+marker+for+the+identification+of+natural+killer+cell+activity.">CD107a as a functional marker for the identification of natural killer cell activity.</a> J Immunol Methods. 294 (1-2), 15-22 (2004).</li><li>Theorell, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sensitive+and+viable+quantification+of+inside-out+signals+for+LFA-1+activation+in+human+cytotoxic+lymphocytes+by+flow+cytometry.">Sensitive and viable quantification of inside-out signals for LFA-1 activation in human cytotoxic lymphocytes by flow cytometry.</a> J Immunol Methods. 366 (1-2), 106-118 (2011).</li><li>Brander, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Inhibition+of+human+NK+cell-mediated+cytotoxicity+by+exposure+to+ammonium+chloride.">Inhibition of human NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity by exposure to ammonium chloride.</a> J Immunol Methods. 252 (1-2), 1-14 (2001).</li><li>Beeton, C., Chandy, K. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Enrichment+of+NK+cells+from+human+blood+with+the+RosetteSep+kit+from+StemCell+technologies.">Enrichment of NK cells from human blood with the RosetteSep kit from StemCell technologies.</a> J Vis Exp. (8), e326 (2007).</li><li>Lamoreaux, L., Roederer, M., Koup, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intracellular+cytokine+optimization+and+standard+operating+procedure.">Intracellular cytokine optimization and standard operating procedure.</a> Nat. Protoc. 1 (3), 1507-1516 (2006).</li><li>Baginska, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Granzyme+B+degradation+by+autophagy+decreases+tumor+cell+susceptibility+to+natural+killer-mediated+lysis+under+hypoxia.">Granzyme B degradation by autophagy decreases tumor cell susceptibility to natural killer-mediated lysis under hypoxia.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 110 (43), 17450-17455 (2013).</li><li>He, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+sensitive+flow+cytometry-based+cytotoxic+T-lymphocyte+assay+through+detection+of+cleaved+caspase+3+in+target+cells.">A sensitive flow cytometry-based cytotoxic T-lymphocyte assay through detection of cleaved caspase 3 in target cells.</a> J Immunol Methods. 304 (1-2), 43-59 (2005).</li><li>Sutton, V. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Serglycin+determines+secretory+granule+repertoire+and+regulates+NK+cell+and+CTL+cytotoxicity.">Serglycin determines secretory granule repertoire and regulates NK cell and CTL cytotoxicity.</a> FEBS J. 283 (5), 947-961 (2016).</li><li>Sch&#246;nberg, K., Hejazi, M., Uhrberg, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Protocol+for+the+clonal+analysis+of+NK+cell+effector+functions+by+multi-parameter+flow+cytometry.">Protocol for the clonal analysis of NK cell effector functions by multi-parameter flow cytometry.</a> Methods Mol Biol. 903, 381-392 (2012).</li><li>Bj&#246;rkstr&#246;m, N. K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Expression+patterns+of+NKG2A,+KIR,+and+CD57+define+a+process+of+CD56dim+NK-cell+differentiation+uncoupled+from+NK-cell+education.">Expression patterns of NKG2A, KIR, and CD57 define a process of CD56dim NK-cell differentiation uncoupled from NK-cell education.</a> Blood. 116 (19), 3853-3864 (2010).</li><li>Bryceson, Y. T., Ljunggren, H. G., Long, E. O. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Minimal+requirement+for+induction+of+natural+cytotoxicity+and+intersection+of+activation+signals+by+inhibitory+receptors.">Minimal requirement for induction of natural cytotoxicity and intersection of activation signals by inhibitory receptors.</a> Blood. 114 (13), 2657-2666 (2009).</li><li>Cooper, M. 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Immunol. 6, 448 (2015).</li><li>Laprevotte, E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Endogenous+IL-8+acts+as+a+CD16+co-activator+for+natural+killer-mediated+anti-CD20+B+cell+depletion+in+chronic+lymphocytic+leukemia.">Endogenous IL-8 acts as a CD16 co-activator for natural killer-mediated anti-CD20 B cell depletion in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.</a> Leuk Res. 37 (4), 440-446 (2013).</li><li>Maloney, D. G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=IDEC-C2B8+(Rituximab)+anti-CD20+monoclonal+antibody+therapy+in+patients+with+relapsed+low-grade+non-Hodgkin's+lymphoma.">IDEC-C2B8 (Rituximab) anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody therapy in patients with relapsed low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.</a> Blood. 90 (6), 2188-2195 (1997).</li><li>Salles, G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Phase+1+study+results+of+the+type+II+glycoengineered+humanized+anti-CD20+monoclonal+antibody+obinutuzumab+(GA101)+in+B-cell+lymphoma+patients.">Phase 1 study results of the type II glycoengineered humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody obinutuzumab (GA101) in B-cell lymphoma patients.</a> Blood. 119 (22), 5126-5132 (2012).</li><li>Terszowski, G., Klein, C., Stern, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=KIR/HLA+interactions+negatively+affect+rituximab-+but+not+GA101+(obinutuzumab)-induced+antibody-dependent+cellular+cytotoxicity.">KIR/HLA interactions negatively affect rituximab- but not GA101 (obinutuzumab)-induced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.</a> J Immunol. 192 (12), 5618-5624 (2014).</li><li>Hsu, A. K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+immunostimulatory+effect+of+lenalidomide+on+NK-cell+function+is+profoundly+inhibited+by+concurrent+dexamethasone+therapy.">The immunostimulatory effect of lenalidomide on NK-cell function is profoundly inhibited by concurrent dexamethasone therapy.</a> Blood. 117 (5), 1605-1613 (2011).</li><li>Salih, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+BCR/ABL-inhibitors+imatinib,+nilotinib+and+dasatinib+differentially+affect+NK+cell+reactivity.">The BCR/ABL-inhibitors imatinib, nilotinib and dasatinib differentially affect NK cell reactivity.</a> Int J Cancer. 127 (9), 2119-2128 (2010).</li><li>Benson, D. 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The described method is an easy, fast and reliable approach to study NK cell functions from whole blood samples of healthy donors or patients. This method offers the great advantage to directly purify NK cells from whole blood, avoiding the time-consuming density gradient centrifugation, which is mandatory for many other purification methods15. Moreover, it requires a smaller sample size compared to &#34;classical&#34; NK cell isolation/enrichment methods, which makes it a suitable alternative for samples of p...

As part of the innate immune system natural killer (NK) cells contribute to the first line of defense against virus-infected or malignantly transformed cells. A system of inhibitory and activating receptors enables them to distinguish between healthy and transformed cells without prior antigen priming in contrast to T cells. Upon target cell encounter NK cells release the content of their cytotoxic granules (e.g., perforin, granzymes) into the immune synapse to kill their target. Moreover, NK cells produce and secrete different kinds of cytokines (e.g., interferon- &#947;: IFN-&#947;; tumor necrosis factor-&#945;: TNF-&#945;) and chemokines (e.g., macrophage inflammatory protein-1&#946;: MIP-1&#946;) upon target cell interaction or cytokine stimulation1.
Sufficient NK cell functions such as cytotoxicity, chemokine and cytokine production have an important impact on the fate of diverse diseases. Leukemia patients show increased relapse rates if they exhibit a defective NK cell profile at diagnosis consisting of reduced IFN-&#947; production and reduced expression of activating NK cell receptors2. An early recovery of NK cell numbers and function including cytokine production upon target cell interaction is associated with a reduced relapse and improved survival rate in patients receiving allogeneic stem cell transplantation3. Moreover, upon initiation of interferon therapy in hepatitis C virus-infected patients the degranulation capacity of peripheral NK cells is stronger in early responders than in non-responders4. NK cell numbers (&#62;80/&#181;l) on day 15 after autologous stem cell transplantation (autoSCT) in patients suffering from lymphoma or multiple myeloma are predictive for an improved progression free and overall survival5. In melanoma patients the expression of the T-cell immunoglobulin- and mucin-domain-containing molecule-3 (TIM-3), an immune-regulatory protein on NK cells, correlates with disease stage and prognosis6.
Scientists have monitored NK cell functions throughout the last decades. The initial analysis of NK cell cytotoxicity against tumor cells without prior priming was addressed using a 51Cr-release assay7. More recently, scientists developed a non-radioactive method to evaluate the cytotoxicity of expanded NK cells8. Cytokine and chemokine production has been frequently evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques9,10. During the last decades these methods have been complemented by flow cytometry-based assays. The use of protein transport inhibitors (e.g., brefeldin A and monensin) and cell permeabilization methods in combination with conventional surface staining protocols have enabled scientists to study chemokine and cytokine production in different specific lymphocyte subsets (e.g., T, B or NK cells)11. Moreover, different flow cytometry-based assays have been developed to monitor T and NK cell cytotoxicity. In 2004 Alter et al. described the surface expression of the lysosome-associated protein CD107a (Lamp1) on NK cells upon target cell encounter as a marker for the degranulation of cytotoxic granules12. Since a wide range of different fluorochromes and multi-channel flow cytometers are available in our days, it has become possible to simultaneously monitor diverse NK cell functions (cytotoxicity, cytokine and chemokine production) in different NK cell subsets. This becomes especially important in situations where sample size is limited, e.g., in biopsies or blood samples of patients suffering from leukopenia.
To test global NK cell functions, the different flow cytometry-based assays can be efficiently combined. Theorell et al. stimulated NK cells from healthy donors with the tumor cell line K562 and analyzed NK cell degranulation, inside-out signal and chemokine production via flow cytometry13. Recently NK cell subgroups, phenotypes and functions in tumor patients during autoSCT were analyzed using flow cytometry-based assays. It was demonstrated that NK cells were able to degranulate and produce cytokines/chemokines upon tumor cell recognition at very early time points after autoSCT11.
Here a protocol is described to evaluate NK cell functions upon interaction with tumor cells including degranulation capacity, chemokine and cytokine production using a flow cytometry-based assay that makes it possible to monitor NK cell functions in different subsets simultaneously.

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		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
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	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">RPMI 1640 + glutamine</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">6187-044</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">penicilin/streptomycin</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">15140-122</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">BD Falcon Round Bottom Tube</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">BD</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">352008</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">fetal calf serum</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">10270-106</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">heat inactivated before use</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">T-flask</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Greiner Bio-One</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">690195</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">K562 tumor cell line</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">DSMZ GmbH</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">ACC 10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">ammonium-chloride-potassium (ACK) lysis buffer</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">made in house</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">/</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">components are listed in the text</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Distilled water: Ampuwa Sp&#252;ll&#246;sung 1000ml Plastipur</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Fresenius Kabi</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1088813</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Megafuge 40R Centrifuge</td>
			<td>Heraeus</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">/</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">EDTA blood collector tubes</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Sarstedt</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">386453</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">S-Monovette 7,5 ml, K3 EDTA</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">UltraPure 0.5M EDTA, pH 8.0</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">15575-020</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Hematopoietic media (XVIVO)</td>
			<td>Lonza Group Ltd</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BE04-743Q</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:216px;">human serum</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">DRK Blutspendedienst, Frankfurt/M&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">/</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">healthy donors with blood type AB; heat inactivated before use</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Neubauer-improved counting chamber, bright line</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Marienfeld superior/ LO-Laboroptik Ltd.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">0640030/ 1110000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">trypan blue solution (0,4%)</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">15250-061</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">3% acetic acid with methylene blue</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Stemcell Technologies&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">07060</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Corning 96 Well Clear V-Bottom TC-treated Microplates</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Corning&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">3894</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Falcon 96 Well Round Bottom Not Treated Microplates</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Corning&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">351177</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:216px;">DPBS (Ca2+- and Mg2+-free)</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Gibco Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">14190-169</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">BSA</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">A2153-100G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:216px;">NaN3</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">08591-1ML-F</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Merck</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">524400-1MG</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">ionomycin&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">PromoKine</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">PK-CA577-1566-5</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">interleukin 15 (IL-15)</td>
			<td>PeproTech</td>
			<td>200-15</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Proleukin S (IL-2)&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Novartis Pharma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">730523</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="126">
			<td height="126" style="height:126px;width:216px;">Golgi Stop, Protein Transport Inhibitor (containing Monensin)</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">BD Biosciences</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">554724</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">This product can be used in combination or instead of Golgi Plug. The best combination for the wished experimental setting has to be tested.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Golgi Plug, Protein Transport Inhibitor (containing Brefeldin A)</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">BD Biosciences</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">555029</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">paraformaldehyde</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">AppliChem</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">UN2209</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">saponin</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">47036</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">flow cytometer: Canto10C</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">BD Biosciences</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">/</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">FlowJo</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">TreeStar Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">/</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Graph Pad</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Graph Pad Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">/</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">MACSxpress Separator</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Miltenyi Biotec&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">130-098-308</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">MACSxpress NK isolation kit</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Miltenyi Biotec&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">130-098-185</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">MACSxpress Erythrocyte Depletion Kit, human</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Miltenyi Biotec&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">130-098-196</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">MACSmix Tube Rotator&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Miltenyi Biotec&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">130-090-753</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">anti-human CD3 APC</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Biolegend</td>
			<td>300412</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">anti-human CD3 V450</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>560366</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">anti-human CD14 PerCP</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Miltenyi Biotec&#160;</td>
			<td>130-094-969</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">anti-human CD14 V450</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>560349</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">anti-human CD16 PE</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Biolegend</td>
			<td>302008</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">anti-human CD16 PerCP</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Biolegend</td>
			<td>302029</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">anti-human CD19 PE-Cy7</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Biolegend</td>
			<td>302216</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">anti-human CD19 V450</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>560353</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">anti-human CD45 BV510</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>563204</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">anti-human CD56 FITC</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Biolegend</td>
			<td>345811</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">anti-human CD107a PE</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Biolegend</td>
			<td>328608</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">anti-human IFN-&#947; AF-647</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>557729</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">anti-human MIP-1&#946; APC-H7</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>561280</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">DAPI</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Biolegend</td>
			<td>422801</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Zombie Violet Fixable Viability Kit</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>423113</td>
			<td>fixable dead cell marker</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

flow cytometry-based assay for the monitoring of nk cell functions

Natural killer (NK) cells are an important part of the human tumor immune surveillance system. NK cells are able to distinguish between healthy and virus-infected or malignantly transformed cells due to a set of germline encoded inhibitory and activating receptors. Upon virus or tumor cell recognition a variety of different NK cell functions are initiated including cytotoxicity against the target cell as well as cytokine and chemokine production leading to the activation of other immune cells. It has been demonstrated that accurate NK cell functions are crucial for the treatment outcome of different virus infections and malignant diseases. Here a simple and reliable method is described to analyze different NK cell functions using a flow cytometry-based assay. NK cell functions can be evaluated not only for the whole NK cell population, but also for different NK cell subsets. This technique enables scientists to easily study NK cell functions in healthy donors or patients in order to reveal their impact on different malignancies and to further discover new therapeutic strategies.

The gating strategy for analyzing the degranulation, cytokine and chemokine production of the whole NK cell population and three different NK cell subsets are illustrated in Figure 1.
Representative results of one healthy donor are illustrated in Figure 2. NK cells without any stimulus produced neither IFN-&#947; nor MIP-1&#946; and did not express CD107a on their surface (Figure 2A</str...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Flow Cytometry-based Assay for the Monitoring of NK Cell Functions at JoVE.com

Flow Cytometry-based Assay for the Monitoring of NK Cell Functions

A simple and reliable method is described here to analyze a set of NK cell functions such as degranulation, cytokine and chemokine production within different NK cell subsets.

Natural killer (NK) cells are an important part of the human tumor immune surveillance system. NK cells are able to distinguish between healthy and ...

The overall goal of this procedure is to monitor NK cell functions using a flow cytometry-based assay. Natural killer cells are crucial for the outcome of various viral infections and malignant diseases. To better monitor NK cell functions, our lab has further developed a flow cytometry-based assay that can be used in both scientific research and clinical evaluations.We optimized the protocol to permit the analysis of small NK cell sample sizes which is essential for its use in pediatrics and for immunodeficient patients. An additional advantage of this technique is the possibility to measure NK cell functions not only within the whole NK cell population, but also in different NK cell subsets. To isolate the NK cells, begin by mixing the appropriate volume of NK cell isolation cocktail solution with six to 10 milliliters of EDTA peripheral whole blood from a patient by several inversions.Next, further homogenize the sample on a tube rotator for five minutes at room temperature. Then place the tube into a magnetic separator for 15 minutes under sterile conditions, taking care that the tube label faces toward the back of the magnet to facilitate the visibility of the separation line. At the end of the separation, carefully transfer the supernatant into a new 15 milliliter tube and bring the final volume up to 15 milliliters with complete medium.Wash the cells by centrifugation and resuspend the pellet in one milliliter of fresh complete medium. Then count the cells and adjust the volume to a concentration of at least two times 10 to the fourth NK cells per 100 microliters in complete medium. To stimulate the isolated NK cells, first gently mix by pipetting at least five times and aliquot 100 microliters of the cells into the appropriate wells of a 96-well V-bottomed plate.Switch off the light and add anti-CD107a antibody to each well of the NK cells. Then carefully mix an aliquot of K562 tumor cells at a two times 10 to the fourth cells per 100 microliter volume by pipetting at least five times and transfer 100 microliters of the tumor cells to each well planned for the stimulation. Precise pipetting and the preparation of a one-to-one effector target ratio are of key importance for the accurate assessment of NK cell function.Next, add IL-2 and IL-15 to the stimulation wells and mix all of the wells by pipetting at least five times. Incubate the plate protected from light for three hours at 37 degrees Celsius and 5%carbon dioxide. After the first hour with the light switched off, add freshly prepared protein transport inhibitor solution to each well with careful mixing and return the plate to the incubator.At the end of incubation, carefully mix the co-cultures and transfer them into their corresponding flow cytometry tubes. Add one milliliter of wash buffer to each tube for centrifugation and resuspend the pellets in 99 microliters of PBS plus one microliter of fixable dead cell marker per sample. Mix the cells by vortexing, followed by a 15-minute incubation at room temperature in the dark.At the end of the incubation, wash the cells in one milliliter of wash buffer and resuspend the pellets in 84 microliters of wash buffer plus 16 microliters of the appropriate cell surface antibody cocktail. Mix the samples by vortexing and incubate for 20 minutes in the dark at four degrees Celsius. Then wash the cells in one milliliter of wash buffer and resuspend the pellets in 100 microliters of a cold fixation solution.Mix by vortexing, followed by 10 minutes at four degrees Celsius in the dark. Now wash the cells in one milliliter of wash buffer and resuspend the pellets in 90 microliters of permeabilization buffer. Stain with 10 microliters of the appropriate intracellular antibodies and mix by vortexing.After 30 minutes in the dark at four degrees Celsius, wash the cells two times in one milliliter of fresh permeabilization buffer. Then resuspend the samples in 400 microliters of fresh permeabilization buffer. Mix well by vortexing and place the cells on ice until their analysis by flow cytometry.As soon as possible, transfer all tubes into the flow cytometer and start the data acquisition. Here, gating strategies for analyzing the de-granulation and cytokine and chemokine production of the whole NK cell population as well as three different NK cell subsets are illustrated. Unstimulated NK cells from healthy donors produced neither interferon gamma nor MIP-1 beta and do not express CD107a on their surface.In contrast, NK cell stimulated with tumor cells and cytokines produced significant amounts of intracellular interferon gamma and MIP-1 beta with over 20%of the cells demonstrating de-granulation upon tumor cell interaction as indicated by their CD107a cell surface expression. Once mastered, this technique can be completed in eight hours. While attempting this procedure, it is important to be precise in the plating of the NK cells and K562 tumor cells.To maintain the selected effector target ratio, the counting should be as accurate as possible. This flexible procedure can be easily modified. For example, NK cells within the PBMC population can be analyzed or different antibodies can be used to check for other markers of interest.After watching this video, you should have a good understanding of how to purify, stimulate and label NK cells to monitor their function using a flow cytometry-based assay. Don't forget that working with human and target cells is potentially hazardous and that safety precautions such as wearing the appropriate personal protection equipment should always be taken while performing this procedure.

flow-cytometry-based-assay-for-the-monitoring-of-nk-cell-functions

Research

JoVE Journal

Immunology and Infection

20.5K vistas.  Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University. The overall goal of this procedure is to monitor NK cell functions using a flow cytometry-based assay. Natural killer cells are crucial for the outcome of various viral infections and malignant diseases. To better monitor NK cell functions, our lab has further developed a flow cytometry-based assay that can be used in both scientific research and clinical evaluations.We optimized the protocol to permit the analysis of small NK cell sample sizes which is essential for its use in pediatr...