CD56^bright NK cells stimulated with low concentrations of IL-2 and IL-12 rapidly accumulate IFN-γ transcript followed by IFN-γ protein secretion.

Sorted CD56^bright (●) and CD56^dim (▴) NK cells were cultured for 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours with IL-2 (10 pM) plus IL-12 (10 U/mL). At each time point, cells and supernatants were collected and IFN-γ gene expression (left panel) and protein levels (right panel) were assessed. Results represent the means ± SEMs of replicate wells, expressed as fold increase in gene expression or ng/mL, and are representative of 4 separate experiments.