Figure 2. IL-27 induces the expression of IL-10 and IFN-γ in CD56bright and CD56dim NK cells.

IL-27 decreases the proliferation of NK cells subsets and enhances their survival. (a) and (b) Expression of IL-10 and IFN-γ as measured by real-time PCR. Purified CD56^bright and CD56^dim NK cells were cultured for 24 hours in medium only, in presence of IL-27 only or in presence IL-12 plus IL-15 with or without IL-27. (c) Proliferation of CD56^bright and CD56^dim NK cells after culture in medium only, with IL-27 only and with IL-12 plus IL-15 with or without IL-27. Cell proliferation is shown as mean c.p.m.+s.d. in triplicate wells. (d) Viability of CD56^bright and CD56^dim NK cells as determined by the FACS after 72 hours of culture in the presence of the IL-27 compared to no stimulus, and in the presence of IL-12 plus IL-15 with or without IL-27. Dead cells were selected as AAD-positive cells. One experiment of 5–10 independent experiments is shown in each panel.