Identification and characterisation of transient receptor potential melastatin 2 and CD38 channels on natural killer cells using the novel application of flow cytometry

• Published in: BMC immunology Vol. 20; no. 1; p. 14
• Main Authors: Balinas, Cassandra, Cabanas, Helene, Staines, Donald, Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 10.05.2019; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 - genetics; ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 - metabolism; Analysis; Antibodies; Antibody; Calcium (intracellular); Calcium permeability; Calcium Signaling; Calcium signalling; CD38 antigen; CD56 Antigen - metabolism; Cell Separation; Cells, Cultured; Cytokines; Cytotoxicity; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Effector cells; Electrophysiology; Flow cytometry; Flow Cytometry - methods; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation; Genetic research; Healthy Volunteers; Homeostasis; Humans; Identification and classification; Immune system; Immunohistochemistry; Innate immunity; Intracellular; Intracellular signalling; Investigations; Ion channels; Killer cells; Killer Cells, Natural - metabolism; Kinases; Lymphocytes; Methods; Natural killer cells; Signal transduction; Surface science; Transient receptor potential Melastatin 2; Transient receptor potential proteins; TRPM Cation Channels - genetics; TRPM Cation Channels - metabolism; Flow cytometry; Natural killer cells; Transient receptor potential Melastatin 2; Antibody
• ISSN: 1471-2172; 1471-2172
• DOI: 10.1186/s12865-019-0293-0

Natural Killer (NK) cells are effector lymphocytes of the innate immune system and are subclassed into CD56 CD16 and CD56 CD16 NK cells. Intracellular calcium (Ca ) is fundamental to regulate a number of intracellular signalling pathways and functions in NK cells, which are essential in mediating their natural cytotoxic function. Transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) is a Ca -permeable non-selective cation channel that possesses a critical role in calcium-dependent cell signalling to maintain cellular homeostasis. TRPM2 and CD38 protein surface expression has yet to be determined on NK cells using flow cytometry. Characterisation of TRPM2 has been previously identified by in vivo models, primarily using methods such as genetic remodification, immunohistochemistry and whole cell electrophysiology. The aim of this study was to develop an in vitro methodology to characterise TRPM2 and CD38 surface expression on NK cell subsets using an antibody that has not been previously applied using flow cytometry. At 2 h/1 h, TRPM2 (Fig. 2 A, B, p < 0.05) and TRPM2/CD38 (Fig. 3A, B, p < 0.05) surface expression significantly increased between 1:300 and 1:50 at 2 h/1 h. TRPM2/CD38 surface expression furthermore increased between 1:100 and 1:50 at 2 h/1 h (Fig. 3A, p < 0.05). Interestingly, TRPM2/CD38 surface expression significantly decreased from 1:50 to 1:5 on CD56 CD16 NK cells. These consistent findings highlight that 1:50 is the optimal antibody dilution and threshold to measure TRPM2 and TRPM2/CD38 surface expression on NK subsets. 2 h/1 h was determined as the optimal incubation period to ensure a sufficient timeframe for maximal antibody binding and surface expression. For the first time, we describe an in vitro methodology to characterise TRPM2 and CD38 surface expression on NK cells in healthy participants. Finally, using an antibody that has not been previously applied in flow cytometry, we determined an antibody concentration and incubation time that is robust, rapid and sensitive for the application of flow cytometry.