Figure 4

The effect of cytokines on NKG2D, DNAM-1 and CD161 receptor expression on NK cell subsets. a) Percentage and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of NKG2D receptor decrease significantly (*p < 0.05, Wilcoxon signed rank test) on CD3⁻CD56⁺ NK cells, as well as on CD3⁻CD56^dim+ subset in metastatic melanoma (MM) patients after 18 h in vitro treatment with IL-18. Results are obtained by Flow cytometry; b) 18 h in vitro treatment with IL-18 high significantly (**p < 0.01, exact Wilcoxon signed rank test) decreases DAP10 mRNA level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of MM patients. Results are obtained by RT-PCR with respect to β-actin level; c) MFI of DNAM-1 co-receptor does not change significantly (p > 0.05, Wilcoxon signed rank test) on NK cells and both their subsets in healthy controls (HC) and MM patients after 18 h in vitro treatments of PBMC with investigated cytokines. Results are obtained by Flow cytometry; d) In HC IL-12 alone or in combination with IL-18 significantly (*p < 0.05, Wilcoxon signed rank test) or high significantly (**p < 0.01, Wilcoxon signed rank test) increases MFI of CD161 receptor on NK cells and their subsets. Results are obtained by Flow cytometry. All results are expressed as mean ± SE for 19 HC and 23 MM patients.