scholarly journals Supplementation with a Natural Source of Amino Acids, Sil-Q1 (Silk Peptide), Enhances Natural Killer Cell Activity: A Redesigned Clinical Trial with a Reduced Supplementation Dose and Minimized Seasonal Effects in a Larger Population

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 2930
Author(s):  
Jung Min Cho ◽  
Dokyeong Yoo ◽  
Jeong-Yong Lee ◽  
Mi-Sun Oh ◽  
Ki-Chan Ha ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to re-validate the changes in natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity and cytokines related to T cells after Sil-Q1 (SQ; silk peptide) supplementation in a larger pool of Korean adults with minimized daily dose of SQ and controlling seasonal influence compared to the previous study. A total of 130 subjects were randomly assigned (1:1) to consume either 7.5 g of SQ or placebo for 8 weeks. NK cell cytotoxicity and cytokines were measured at T0 (baseline) and T8 (follow-up). Comparing the NK cell cytotoxicity values at T0 and T8 within each group, the cytotoxicity at all effector cell (E) to target cell (T) ratios of 10:1, 5:1, 2.5:1, and 1.25:1 was significantly increased in the SQ group at T8. Additionally, significant differences in the changed value (Δ, subtract baseline values from follow-up values) comparison between the groups at E:T = 10:1, 5:1, and 2.5:1 were found. As a secondary endpoint, the interleukin (IL)-12 level in the SQ group was significantly increased for 8 weeks, and Δ IL-12 in the SQ group was greater than in the placebo group. In conclusion, the present study showed considerable practical implications of SQ supplementation. Thus, SQ is an effective and safe functional food supplement for enhancing immune function.

2001 ◽  
Vol 29 (01) ◽  
pp. 17-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myeong Soo Lee ◽  
Hwa Jeong Huh ◽  
Hye-Sook Jang ◽  
Chang Sub Han ◽  
Hoon Ryu ◽  
...  

The present study investigated the effects of Korean Qi-therapy, ChunSoo Energy Healing, on natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity in vitro depending on Qi-treatment time and the types of cells treated. NK cell cytotoxicity was assayed by measuring LDH release from tumor target cells (K562 cell lines). NK activity was significantly increased by emitted-Qi treatment of 30 sec duration. Three and 5 minutes of Qi projection created the greatest increase in NK cell activity when mixtures of NK cells and K562 cells were treated (1.81 and 2.12 fold for 4 hr culture; 1.54 and 1.36 for 16 hr culture, respectively). NK cell activity increased significantly in Qi-treated K562 cells alone (1.13 fold, p < 0.05) compared to control. These results are consistent with in vivo Qi-therapy on humans and suggests that emitted-Qi has an acute stimulatory effect on NK cell activity. This study provides direct scientific support that Qi as such may positively affect human cellular immunity.


Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 135 (9) ◽  
pp. 629-637
Author(s):  
Michael T. Lam ◽  
Emily M. Mace ◽  
Jordan S. Orange

Abstract Natural killer cell deficiencies (NKDs) are an emerging phenotypic subtype of primary immune deficiency. NK cells provide a defense against virally infected cells using a variety of cytotoxic mechanisms, and patients who have defective NK cell development or function can present with atypical, recurrent, or severe herpesviral infections. The current pipeline for investigating NKDs involves the acquisition and clinical assessment of patients with a suspected NKD followed by subsequent in silico, in vitro, and in vivo laboratory research. Evaluation involves initially quantifying NK cells and measuring NK cell cytotoxicity and expression of certain NK cell receptors involved in NK cell development and function. Subsequent studies using genomic methods to identify the potential causative variant are conducted along with variant impact testing to make genotype-phenotype connections. Identification of novel genes contributing to the NKD phenotype can also be facilitated by applying the expanding knowledge of NK cell biology. In this review, we discuss how NKDs that affect NK cell cytotoxicity can be approached in the clinic and laboratory for the discovery of novel gene variants.


1998 ◽  
Vol 275 (4) ◽  
pp. R1227-R1231
Author(s):  
H. B. Nielsen ◽  
N. H. Secher ◽  
M. Kappel ◽  
B. K. Pedersen

This study evaluated whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC) attenuates the reduced lymphocyte proliferation and natural killer (NK) cell activity responses to exercise in humans. Fourteen oarsmen were double-blind randomized to either NAC (6 g daily for 3 days) or placebo groups. During 6-min “all-out” ergometer rowing, the concentration of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood increased, with no significant difference between NAC and placebo as reflected in lymphocyte subsets: CD4+, CD8+, CD16+, and CD19+ cells. The phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation decreased from 9,112 ± 2,865 to 5,851 ± 1,588 cpm ( P < 0.05), but it was not affected by NAC. During exercise, the NK cell activity was elevated from 17 ± 3 to 38 ± 4% and it decreased to 7 ± 1% below the resting value 2 h into recovery. Yet, when evaluated as lytic units per CD16+ cell, the NK cell activity decreased during and after exercise without a significant effect of NAC. We conclude that NAC does not attenuate the reduction in lymphocyte proliferation and NK cell activity associated with intense exercise.


2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (35) ◽  
pp. 17409-17418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuefu Wang ◽  
Rui Sun ◽  
Xiaolei Hao ◽  
Zhe-Xiong Lian ◽  
Haiming Wei ◽  
...  

Increasing evidence demonstrates that IL-17A promotes tumorigenesis, metastasis, and viral infection. Natural killer (NK) cells are critical for defending against tumors and infections. However, the roles and mechanisms of IL-17A in regulating NK cell activity remain elusive. Herein, our study demonstrated that IL-17A constrained NK cell antitumor and antiviral activity by restraining NK cell maturation. It was observed that the development and metastasis of tumors were suppressed in IL-17A–deficient mice in the NK cell-dependent manner. In addition, the antiviral activity of NK cells was also improved in IL-17A–deficient mice. Mechanistically, ablation of IL-17A signaling promoted generation of terminally mature CD27−CD11b+ NK cells, whereas constitutive IL-17A signaling reduced terminally mature NK cells. Parabiosis or mixed bone marrow chimeras from Il17a−/−and wild-type (WT) mice could inhibit excessive generation of terminally mature NK cells induced by IL-17A deficiency. Furthermore, IL-17A desensitized NK cell responses to IL-15 and suppressed IL-15–induced phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) via up-regulation of SOCS3, leading to down-regulation of Blimp-1. Therefore, IL-17A acts as the checkpoint during NK cell terminal maturation, which highlights potential interventions to defend against tumors and viral infections.


1994 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 149-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Campbell ◽  
Nachman Brautbar ◽  
Aristo Vojdani

We have previously shown that natural killer (NK) cell activity is significantly suppressed in patients with silicone breast implants. These patients were symptomatic and the suppression of natural killer cell activity was associated with additional significant immunological abnormalities (Vojdani et al, 1992a). Our studies have recently been confirmed by Smith et al. (1994), who described natural killer cell activity suppression following exposure to silicone gel, and reversal upon removal of the gel. This study has been designed to evaluate natural killer cell activities in symptomatic women with silicone breast implants and again after explantation of the implants. Each patient served as her own control. Our findings show a marked significant increase in previously suppressed natural killer cell activity in 50% of the patients. In the other 50%, no change or suppressed NK activity was observed. These findings are compatible with recent studies in experimental animals, which show that administration of silicone reduces natural killer cell activity, and that this is reversible upon removal of the silicone. Since NK cells are important in the control of tumor cell growth, we propose here that patients with reduced NK cell activity are at a higher risk of developing cancer, a concept recently described in experimental animals (Potter et al., 1994; Salhon et al, 1994).


1996 ◽  
Vol 184 (6) ◽  
pp. 2243-2250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas M. Valiante ◽  
Joseph H. Phillips ◽  
Lewis L. Lanier ◽  
Peter Parham

The killer cell inhibitory receptors (KIR) of human natural killer (NK) cells recognize human leukocyte antigen class I molecules and inhibit NK cell cytotoxicity through their interaction with protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTP). Here, we report that KIR recognition of class I ligands inhibits distal signaling events and ultimately NK cell cytotoxicity by blocking the association of an adaptor protein (pp36) with phospholipase C-γ in NK cells. In addition, we demonstrate that pp36 can serve as a substrate in vitro for the KIR-associated PTP, PTP-1C (also called SHP-1), and that recognition of class I partially disrupts tyrosine phosphorylation of NK cell proteins, providing evidence for KIR-induced phosphatase activity.


Blood ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
HW Ziegler-Heitbrock ◽  
H Rumpold ◽  
D Kraft ◽  
C Wagenpfeil ◽  
R Munker ◽  
...  

Many patients with B-type chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) exhibit a profound defect in their natural killer (NK) cell activity, the basis of which is still obscure. Hence, we analyzed the NK cells from peripheral blood samples from 11 patients with CLL for phenotype and function, after removal of the leukemic cells with a monoclonal antibody (BA-1) plus complement. Phenotypic analysis of these nonleukemic cells with monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against NK cells revealed that the CLL patients had higher percentages of HNK-1-positive cells (23.5% compared to controls with 14.7%). In contrast, VEP13- positive cells were absent or low in seven patients (0.8% compared to controls with 11.2%) and normal in four patients (10.5%). When testing NK cell activities against K562 or MOLT 4 target cells, patients with no or minimal numbers of VEP13-positive cells were found to be deficient, while patients with normal percentages of VEP13-positive cells had NK cell activity comparable to controls. Isolation by fluorescence-activated cell sorter of HNK-1-positive cells from patients lacking VEP13-positive cells and NK cell activity indicated that the majority of the HNK-1-positive cells in these patients had the large granular lymphocyte morphology that is characteristic of NK cells. Thus, the deficiency of NK cell activity in CLL patients appears to result from the absence of cells carrying the VEP13 marker.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document