Energetic substrate use in NKDim vs NKBr cells at steady state and upon activation. (A) In vitro model of NKBr and NKDim cell priming and activation. (B-D) Freshly fluorescence-activated cell-sorted NKDim and NKBr cells, IL-15 primed or activated with IL-15/12/18 (18 h) were monitored for cell-surface expression of the GLUT-1 and ASCT2 transporters and percentage of positive cells (B) (data from 3 independent experiments with 1 HD each) and FL-BODIPY-C16 uptake (C) (data from 3 independent experiments with 1 or 2 HDs each). (D) Expression of IFN-γ and percentage of IFN-γ–producing cells were monitored in NKBr and NKDim cells incubated with IL-15 or IL-15/12/18 for 18 hours in the presence of different inhibitors: 1 mM of 2-DG, 4 μM of BPTES, or 20 μM of ETO (data are mean ± standard error of the mean [SEM]; data summarized from 3 independent experiments with at least 2 HDs each). P > .05 was considered not significant (ns). *P < .05, **P < .01, ***P < .001, ****P < .0001 using 2-way analysis of variance with Tukey’s correction. MFI, mean fluorescence intensity.