How to Deplete NK Cells in vivo
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How to Deplete NK Cells in vivo

1. Introduction

The NK (Natural killer) cells comprise various vital elements of the innate immune system. They significantly fight against malignant cells and viral infections. Scientists can discover the particular contributions of NK cell depletion in vivo by using antibody-based techniques and how this depletion cooperates within the immune environment [1, 2].  

 

2. What is NK Cell Depletion?

NK cell depletion involves using a particular antibody or method to reduce or eradicate them in a living organism [3]. This technique is required to study the distinct roles played by NK cells in different pathological and biological settings.  

 

3. Why Deplete NK Cells In Vivo Research?

Researchers deplete NK cells in vivo to:

Investigate immune responses: Understand how NK cells contribute to immune defense mechanisms.

Study disease mechanisms: Examine the role of NK cells in diseases, including cancer and autoimmune disorders.

Evaluate therapeutic strategies: Assess the impact of NK cell depletion on the effectiveness of treatments such as immunotherapies.

 

4.  Antibody Clones for NK Cell Depletion 

Antibody Clone PK136: PK136 is a widely used monoclonal antibody explicitly targeting NK cells, particularly in mice [4].  

 

Advantages of PK136:

Specificity: PK136 has high specificity for NK cells, reducing the risk of off-target effects.
Efficiency: It effectively depletes NK cells, providing precise experimental results.
Versatility: PK136 is suitable for various in vivo models and experimental setups.


Doses for Clone PK136 In Vivo:

The effective dose of PK136 can vary based on experimental conditions, including the mouse strain, age, and the specific biological question being addressed. However, standard dosing regimens include:

Single Dose: A single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of PK136 at 200 μg per mouse is often used.
Repeated Doses: PK136 can be administered at 200 μg per mouse every 3-5 days for sustained depletion.
Initial Higher Dose: An initial higher dose of 250 μg per mouse, followed by maintenance doses of 100-150 μg every 3-5 days, can ensure prolonged NK cell depletion. The dosing regimen must be optimized based on preliminary experiments and specific research needs. 

 

Drawbacks of PK136:

Non-specific effects: In some cases, PK136 may bind non-target cells, causing unintended effects.
Variable depletion: The efficiency of NK cell depletion may vary between experiments or animal strains.
Immune responses: Repeated use of PK136 might trigger immune responses against the antibody, complicating long-term studies.

 

5. Alternative Antibody Clones:

Depending on the species and specific research needs, other antibody clones can be used for NK cell depletion:

Anti-NK1.1 (mouse): Clone PK136 is also used for targeting NK1.1.
Anti-asiago GM1 (mouse): Often used for depleting NK cells in mice, this antibody targets asiago GM1.
Anti-CD56 (human): Clone B159 depletes NK cells in human studies.
Anti-NKp46 (mouse, human, and other species): Clone 29A1.4 targets NKp46, a marker present on NK cells in multiple species.
Anti-CD49b (mouse): Clone DX5 is another antibody that depletes mice's NK cells.
 

6.  Recent Research on NK Cell Depletion Using PK136 

According to Berrien-Elliott et al. (2015), the investigation revealed the roles of NK cell depletion in stimulating tumor-specific T-cell responses and provided a critical understanding of cancer immunotherapy [5]. 

Kucuksezer et al. (2021) demonstrated that this research shows the contributions of NK cells to autoimmune diseases and the possibility of medication in the case of depletion [6]. Another study by Goodier & Riley (2021) reported that this study illustrates the impacts of NK cell depletion on viral infections and consequent immune outcomes [7]. 

 


7. Conclusion

Depleting NK cells in vivo with antibody clone PK136 is a powerful technique for investigating the role of NK cells in health and disease. While PK136 offers significant advantages in specificity and efficiency, researchers must be aware of its potential pitfalls and consider alternative clones when appropriate. Understanding these nuances is crucial for designing effective and insightful NK cell depletion experiments.

For other guides on how to deplete immune cells in vivo click here. 

To find the products: https://ichor.bio/anti-nk1-1-in-vivo-antibody-low-endotoxin-pk136-ich1128

 

8. References

1. Letafati, A., Ardekani, O.S., Naderisemiromi, M. et al. Unraveling the dynamic mechanisms of natural killer cells in viral infections: insights and implications. Virol J 21, 18 (2024).

2.  Brandstadter JD, Yang Y. Natural killer cell responses to viral infection. J Innate Immun. 2011;3(3):274-9. 

3.  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24898-natural-killer-cells [Extracted information on July 2, 2024]. 

4.   https://bioxcell.com/invivomab-anti-mouse-nk1-1-be0036  [Extracted information on July 2, 2024]. 

5.   Berrien-Elliott MM, Romee R, Fehniger TA. Improving natural killer cell cancer immunotherapy. Curr Opin Organ Transplant. 2015 Dec;20(6):671-80. 

6.   Kucuksezer UC, Aktas Cetin E, Esen F, Tahrali I, Akdeniz N, Gelmez MY, Deniz G. The Role of Natural Killer Cells in Autoimmune Diseases. Front Immunol. 2021 Feb 25; 12:622306. 

7.    Goodier MR, Riley EM. Regulation of the human NK cell compartment by pathogens and vaccines. Clin Transl Immunology. 2021 Jan 18;10(1): e1244.