Analysis of the role of Notch signal of NK cell in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

本研究旨在探讨NK细胞Notch信号在造血干细胞移植后移植物抗宿主病（GVHD）中的作用。通过用Notch配体刺激从人脐带血CD34阳性细胞诱导功能成熟的NK细胞。建立异基因造血干细胞移植GVHD模型。当Notch诱导的NK细胞输入受体时，观察到GVHD减少。结果显示，造血干细胞移植后患者的NK细胞表达Notch 1，作为GVHD靶点的肠上皮细胞表达Notch配体Jagged 1。提示NK细胞Notch信号与GVHD的发生有关。

The purpose of our study is to clarify roles of Notch signal of NK cell in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Functionally mature NK cells were induced from human cord-blood CD34-positive cells by stimulation with Notch ligand. We established allogeneic stem cell transplantation GVHD model. Diminishment of GVHD was observed when Notch-induced NK cells were transfused into the recipient. It is revealed that NK cells of patients after hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation expressed Notch1 and intestinal epithelial cells, which are targets of GVHD, expressed Notch ligand, Jagged1. This result suggests the relation between Notch signal of NK cell and GVHD.