Figure 5.

Adoptive transfer of cytokine pre-activated NK cells reduces RL load. Rats (n = 10) were sub-lethally irradiated at 4 Gy and injected with RL 24 h later. IL-12, IL-15, and IL-18 pre-activated NK cells were adoptively transferred to rats (n = 5) at days 3, 6, and 9. Control rats received no NK cells (n = 5). (A) Spleen weights of rats having RL with (white bars, n = 5) or without (black bars, n = 5) infusion of pre-activated NK cells. (B) Total numbers of RL per mL blood or total numbers of RL per spleen in rats with (white bars, n = 5) or without (black bars, n = 5) infusion of pre-activated NK cells. (C) Percent reduction of RL blasts in spleen, blood, or BM in rats receiving pre-activated NK cells. (D) Donor NK cells (CD45.2^neg) are readily detected in spleen, blood, and BM at sacrifice 4 weeks after RL injection. (E) Total numbers of donor CD45.2^neg NK cells per spleen or per mL blood at sacrifice 4 weeks after RL injection. (F) Percent proliferating Ki67⁺ host or donor NK cells at sacrifice 4 weeks after RL injection. (G) Expression of FasL, NKG2D, Ly49s3, and NKp46 on host and donor NK cells at sacrifice 4 weeks after RL injection, presented as RFI values ± SEM. Statistical significance was calculated using the non-parametrical Mann–Whitney test. Data represents two individual experiments with a total five rats in each group.