Abstract
Human natural killer (NK) cells are generated from CD34+ precursors and can be differentiated in vitro by co-culture with developmentally supportive stromal cells. Despite the requirement for stromal cell contact in this process, the nature of these contacts has been poorly defined. We have previously identified a requirement for NK cell signaling receptors associated with terminal maturation in NK cell migration. However, the relationship between NK cell migration and differentiation, and how stromal cells drive NK cell maturation, is still unclear. Here, we perform continuous long-term imaging and tracking of NK cell progenitors undergoing in vitro differentiation. We demonstrate that NK cell precursors can be tracked over long time periods on the order of weeks by utilizing phase-contrast microscopy, and show that these cells acquire increasing motility as they mature. Additionally, we observe that NK cells display a more heterogeneous range of migratory behaviors at later stages of development. Overall, this work suggests an important interplay between NK cell development and motility and presents useful methods for additional research on this subject in long-term live-cell imaging workflows.
Footnotes
Funding: This work was supported by the Virginia and L.E. Simmons Family Foundation and an American Society of Hematology Junior Faculty Scholar Award to EMM.
