Identification of an evolutionarily conserved, function-associated molecule on human natural killer cells

David T. Harris, Liliana Jaso-Friedmann, Robert B. Devlin, Hillel S. Koren, Donald L. Evans

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nonspecific cytotoxic cells (NCC) in teleost fish are analogous to human natural killer (NK) cells and spontaneously lyse a variety of transformed human cell lines sensitive to human NK cell lysis. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) made against these NK-like effector cells inhibited their lytic activity. These anti-NCC mAbs were examined with human NK cells for their effects. It was observed that these mAbs bound specifically to a small percentage of peripheral blood lymphocytes (5-15%) and to the majority (>85%) of CD3- NK cells. The mAbs inhibited human NK cell lysis against a variety of transformed cell lines. Single-cell assays showed that the mAbs exerted their effects through inhibition of conjugate formation (recognition). However, the mAbs did not inhibit NK cell-mediated antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Biochemical analysis of the NK cell molecule revealed that a dimcric structure was involved (distinct from antigen receptors on T cells). Thus, this molecule appears to be a candidate NK cell antigen receptor.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3009-3013
Number of pages5
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume88
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 1991

Keywords

  • Natural killer antigen receptor
  • Signal transduction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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