scholarly journals Heterogeneous phenotypes of expression of the NKB1 natural killer cell class I receptor among individuals of different human histocompatibility leukocyte antigens types appear genetically regulated, but not linked to major histocompatibililty complex haplotype.

1996 ◽  
Vol 183 (4) ◽  
pp. 1817-1827 ◽  
Author(s):  
J E Gumperz ◽  
N M Valiante ◽  
P Parham ◽  
L L Lanier ◽  
D Tyan

Natural killer (NK) cells that express the NKB1 receptor are inhibited from killing target cells that possess human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA) B molecules bearing the Bw4 serological epitope. To investigate whether NKB1 expression is affected by HLA type, peripheral blood lymphocytes of 203 HLA-typed donors were examined. Most donors had a single population of NKB1+ cells, but some had two populations expressing different cell surface levels of NKB1, and others had no detectable NKB1+ cells. Among the donors expressing NKB1, both the relative abundance of NKB1+ NK cells and their level of cell surface expression varied substantially. The percentage of NKB1+ NK cells ranged from 0 to >75% (mean 14.7%), and the mean fluorescence of the positive population varied over three orders of magnitude. For each donor, the small percentage of T cells expressing NKB1 (usually <2%), had a pattern of expression mirroring that of the NK cells. NKB1 expression by NK and T cells remained stable over the 2-yr period that five donors were tested. Patterns of NKB1 expression were not associated with Bw4 or Bw6 serotype of the donor or with the presence of any individual HLA-A or -B antigens. Cells expressing NKB1 are often found in donors who do not possess an appropriate class I ligand, and can be absent in those who express Bw4+ HLA-B antigens. Family studies further suggested that the phenotype of NKB1 expression is inherited but not HLA linked. Whereas identical twins show matching patterns of NKB1 expression, HLA-identical siblings can differ in NKB1 expression, and conversely, HLA-disparate siblings can be similar. Thus NKB1 expression phenotypes are tightly regulated and extremely heterogeneous, but not correlated with HLA type.

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 111 (3) ◽  
pp. 1309-1317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jumei Shi ◽  
Guido J. Tricot ◽  
Tarun K. Garg ◽  
Priyangi A. Malaviarachchi ◽  
Susann M. Szmania ◽  
...  

AbstractHuman leukocyte antigen class I molecules expressed by tumor cells play a central role in the regulation of natural killer (NK) cell–mediated immune responses. The proteasome inhibitor bortezomib has demonstrated significant activity in multiple myeloma (MM). We hypothesized that treatment of MM with bortezomib results in the reduction of cell-surface expression of class I and thereby sensitizes MM to NK cell–mediated lysis. Here we report that bortezomib down-regulates class I in a time- and dose-dependent fashion on all MM cell lines and patient MM cells tested. Downregulation of class I can also be induced in vivo after a single dose of 1.0 mg/m2 bortezomib. Bortezomib significantly enhances the sensitivity of patient myeloma to allogeneic and autologous NK cell–mediated lysis. Further, the level of decrease in class I expression correlates with increased susceptibility to lysis by NK cells. Clinically relevant bortezomib concentrations do not affect NK-cell function. Our findings have clear therapeutic implications for MM and other NK cell–sensitive malignancies in the context of both allogeneic and autologous adoptively transferred NK cells.


1993 ◽  
Vol 178 (3) ◽  
pp. 961-969 ◽  
Author(s):  
M S Malnati ◽  
P Lusso ◽  
E Ciccone ◽  
A Moretta ◽  
L Moretta ◽  
...  

Natural killer (NK) cells provide a first line of defense against viral infections. The mechanisms by which NK cells recognize and eliminate infected cells are still largely unknown. To test whether target cell elements contribute to NK cell recognition of virus-infected cells, human NK cells were cloned from two unrelated donors and assayed for their ability to kill normal autologous or allogeneic cells before and after infection by human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), a T-lymphotropic herpesvirus. Of 132 NK clones isolated from donor 1, all displayed strong cytolytic activity against the NK-sensitive cell line K562, none killed uninfected autologous T cells, and 65 (49%) killed autologous T cells infected with HHV-6. A panel of representative NK clones from donors 1 and 2 was tested on targets obtained from four donors. A wide heterogeneity was observed in the specificity of lysis of infected target cells among the NK clones. Some clones killed none, some killed only one, and others killed more than one of the different HHV-6-infected target cells. Killing of infected targets was not due to complete absence of class I molecules because class I surface levels were only partially affected by HHV-6 infection. Thus, target cell recognition is not controlled by the effector NK cell alone, but also by polymorphic elements on the target cell that restrict NK cell recognition. Furthermore, NK clones from different donors display a variable range of specificities in their recognition of infected target cells.


1995 ◽  
Vol 181 (3) ◽  
pp. 1133-1144 ◽  
Author(s):  
J E Gumperz ◽  
V Litwin ◽  
J H Phillips ◽  
L L Lanier ◽  
P Parham

Although inhibition of natural killer (NK) cell-mediated lysis by the class I HLA molecules of target cells is an established phenomenon, knowledge of the features of class I molecules which induce this effect remains rudimentary. Using class I alleles HLA-B*1502 and B*1513 which differ only at residues 77-83 which define the Bw4 and Bw6 serological epitopes, we tested the hypothesis that the presence of the Bw4 epitope on class I molecules determines recognition by NKB1+ NK cells. HLA-B*1513 possesses the Bw4 epitope, whereas B*1502 has the Bw6 epitope. Lysis by NKB1+ NK cell clones of transfected target cells expressing B*1513 as the only HLA-A, -B, or -C molecule was inhibited, whereas killing of transfectants expressing B*1502 was not. Addition of an an anti-NKB1 monoclonal antibody reconstituted lysis of the targets expressing B*1513, but did not affect killing of targets bearing B*1502. The inhibitory effect of B*1513 could be similarly prevented by the addition of an anti-class I monoclonal antibody. These results show that the presence of the Bw4 epitope influences recognition of HLA-B molecules by NK cells that express NKB1, and suggest that the NKB1 molecule may act as a receptor for Bw4+ HLA-B alleles. Sequences outside of the Bw4 region must also affect recognition by NKB1+ NK cells, because lysis of transfectants expressing HLA-A*2403 or A*2501, which possess the Bw4 epitope but are in other ways substantially different from HLA-B molecules, was not increased by addition of the anti-NKB1 antibody. Asparagine 86, the single site of N-linked glycosylation on class I molecules, is in close proximity to the Bw4/Bw6 region. The glycosylation site of the Bw4-positive molecule B*5801 was mutated, and the mutant molecules tested for inhibition of NKB1+ NK cells. Inhibition that could be reversed by addition of the anti-NKB1 monoclonal antibody was observed, showing the presence of the carbohydrate moiety is not essential for class I recognition by NKB1+ NK cell clones.


1994 ◽  
Vol 180 (2) ◽  
pp. 545-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Moretta ◽  
M Vitale ◽  
S Sivori ◽  
C Bottino ◽  
L Morelli ◽  
...  

GL183 or EB6 (p58) molecules have been shown to function as receptors for different HLA-C alleles and to deliver an inhibitory signal to natural killer (NK) cells, thus preventing lysis of target cells. In this study, we analyzed a subset of NK cells characterized by a p58-negative surface phenotype. We show that p58-negative clones, although specific for class I molecules do not recognize HLA-C alleles. In addition, by the use of appropriate target cells transfected with different HLA-class I alleles we identified HLA-B7 as the protective element recognized by a fraction of p58-negative clones. In an attempt to identify the receptor molecules expressed by HLA-B7-specific clones, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were selected after mice immunization with such clones. Two of these mAbs, termed XA-88 and XA-185, and their F(ab')2 fragments, were found to reconstitute lysis of B7+ target cells by B7-specific NK clones. Both mAbs were shown to be directed against the recently clustered Kp43 molecule (CD94). Thus, mAb-mediated masking of Kp43 molecules interferes with recognition of HLA-B7 and results in target cell lysis. Moreover, in a redirected killing assay, the cross-linking of Kp43 molecules mediated by the XA185 mAb strongly inhibited the cytolytic activity of HLA-B7-specific NK clones, thus mimicking the functional effect of B7 molecules. Taken together, these data strongly suggest that Kp43 molecules function as receptors for HLA-B7 and that this receptor/ligand interaction results in inhibition of the NK-mediated cytolytic activity. Indirect immunofluorescence and FACS analysis of a large number of random NK clones showed that Kp43 molecules (a) were brightly expressed on a subset of p58-negative clones, corresponding to those specific for HLA-B7; (b) displayed a medium/low fluorescence in the p58-negative clones that are not B7-specific as well as in most p58+ NK clones; and (c) were brightly expressed as in the p58+ clone ET34 (GL183-/EB6+, Cw4-specific). Functional analysis revealed that Kp43 functioned as an inhibitory receptor only in NK clones displaying bright fluorescence. These studies also indicate that some NK clones (e.g., the ET34) can coexpress two distinct receptors (p58 and Kp43) for different class I alleles (Cw4 and B7). Finally, we show that Kp43 molecules function as receptors only for some HLA-B alleles and that still undefined receptor(s) must exist for other HLA-B alleles including B27.


1995 ◽  
Vol 181 (3) ◽  
pp. 1235-1238 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Arase ◽  
N Arase ◽  
T Saito

The expression of Fas ligand on natural killer (NK) cells and Fas-mediated cytotoxicity by NK cells was investigated. Fas ligand mRNA was expressed in freshly isolated NK cells but not in T cells. Furthermore, the Fas ligand was detected on the cell surface of NK cells by staining with soluble Fas molecule. We analyzed the cytolytic activity of NK cells against thymocyte targets from normal and lpr mice, and found that the NK cells killed thymocytes from normal mice but not from lpr mice. On the other hand, splenic T cells did not show any cytotoxicity against either of the thymocyte targets. Similarly, NK cells exhibited cytotoxicity against transfectants expressing Fas antigen but not against parental cells or transfectants expressing a mutant Fas antigen with deleted cytoplasmic region. These results demonstrated that NK cells express Fas ligand and possess the capability of killing target cells expressing Fas antigen on their surface. This finding suggests that NK cells play an important role by eliminating Fas-expressing cells either constitutively or inducibly in peripheral lymphoid organs.


1999 ◽  
Vol 190 (7) ◽  
pp. 1005-1012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikael Eriksson ◽  
Guenther Leitz ◽  
Erik Fällman ◽  
Ove Axner ◽  
James C. Ryan ◽  
...  

Inhibitory receptors expressed on natural killer (NK) cells abrogate positive signals upon binding corresponding major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules on various target cells. By directly micromanipulating the effector–target cell encounter using an optical tweezers system which allowed temporal and spatial control, we demonstrate that Ly49–MHC class I interactions prevent characteristic cellular responses in NK cells upon binding to target cells. Furthermore, using this system, we directly demonstrate that an NK cell already bound to a resistant target cell may simultaneously bind and kill a susceptible target cell. Thus, although Ly49-mediated inhibitory signals can prevent many types of effector responses, they do not globally inhibit cellular function, but rather the inhibitory signal is spatially restricted towards resistant targets.


1999 ◽  
Vol 189 (7) ◽  
pp. 1093-1100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumati Rajagopalan ◽  
Eric O. Long

Human natural killer (NK) cells express several killer cell immunoglobulin (Ig)-like receptors (KIRs) that inhibit their cytotoxicity upon recognition of human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules on target cells. Additional members of the KIR family, including some that deliver activation signals, have unknown ligand specificity and function. One such KIR, denoted KIR2DL4, is structurally divergent from other KIRs in the configuration of its two extracellular Ig domains and of its transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. Here we show that recombinant soluble KIR2DL4 binds to cells expressing HLA-G but not to cells expressing other HLA class I molecules. Unlike other HLA class I–specific KIRs, which are clonally distributed on NK cells, KIR2DL4 is expressed at the surface of all NK cells. Furthermore, functional transfer of KIR2DL4 into the cell line NK-92 resulted in inhibition of lysis of target cells that express HLA-G, but not target cells that express other class I molecules including HLA-E. Therefore, given that HLA-G expression is restricted to fetal trophoblast cells, KIR2DL4 may provide important signals to maternal NK decidual cells that interact with trophoblast cells at the maternal–fetal interface during pregnancy.


1998 ◽  
Vol 187 (5) ◽  
pp. 813-818 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Borrego ◽  
Matthias Ulbrecht ◽  
Elisabeth H. Weiss ◽  
John E. Coligan ◽  
Andrew G. Brooks

Human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA)-E is a nonclassical HLA class I molecule, the gene for which is transcribed in most tissues. It has recently been reported that this molecule binds peptides derived from the signal sequence of HLA class I proteins; however, no function for HLA-E has yet been described. We show that natural killer (NK) cells can recognize target cells expressing HLA-E molecules on the cell surface and this interaction results in inhibition of the lytic process. Furthermore, HLA-E recognition is mediated primarily through the CD94/NKG2-A heterodimer, as CD94-specific, but not killer cell inhibitory receptor (KIR)–specific mAbs block HLA-E–mediated protection of target cells. Cell surface HLA-E could be increased by incubation with synthetic peptides corresponding to residues 3–11 from the signal sequences of a number of HLA class I molecules; however, only peptides which contained a Met at position 2 were capable of conferring resistance to NK-mediated lysis, whereas those having Thr at position 2 had no effect. Interestingly, HLA class I molecules previously correlated with CD94/NKG2 recognition all have Met at residue 4 of the signal sequence (position 2 of the HLA-E binding peptide), whereas those which have been reported not to interact with CD94/NKG2 have Thr at this position. Thus, these data show a function for HLA-E and suggest an alternative explanation for the apparent broad reactivity of CD94/NKG2 with HLA class I molecules; that CD94/NKG2 interacts with HLA-E complexed with signal sequence peptides derived from “protective” HLA class I alleles rather than directly interacting with classical HLA class I proteins.


1998 ◽  
Vol 188 (10) ◽  
pp. 1841-1848 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell E. Vance ◽  
Jennifer R. Kraft ◽  
John D. Altman ◽  
Peter E. Jensen ◽  
David H. Raulet

Natural killer (NK) cells preferentially lyse targets that express reduced levels of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I proteins. To date, the only known mouse NK receptors for MHC class I belong to the Ly49 family of C-type lectin homodimers. Here, we report the cloning of mouse NKG2A, and demonstrate it forms an additional and distinct class I receptor, a CD94/NKG2A heterodimer. Using soluble tetramers of the nonclassical class I molecule Qa-1b, we provide direct evidence that CD94/NKG2A recognizes Qa-1b. We further demonstrate that NK recognition of Qa-1b results in the inhibition of target cell lysis. Inhibition appears to depend on the presence of Qdm, a Qa-1b-binding peptide derived from the signal sequences of some classical class I molecules. Mouse NKG2A maps adjacent to CD94 in the heart of the NK complex on mouse chromosome six, one of a small cluster of NKG2-like genes. Our findings suggest that mouse NK cells, like their human counterparts, use multiple mechanisms to survey class I expression on target cells.


1981 ◽  
Vol 153 (6) ◽  
pp. 1582-1591 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Nabel ◽  
L R Bucalo ◽  
J Allard ◽  
H Wigzell ◽  
H Cantor

A special class of immunologic cells can lyse or damage a variety of target cells, notably malignant cells in vitro. These cells have been called natural killer (NK) cells because lysis does not require deliberate immunization by tumor cells. Although these cells can be distinguished from conventional T cells, B cells, and phagocytic cells, they have been difficult to define. We describe a representative cloned cell line that was obtained by cloning Ig -Ly-5+ cells from spleen. This clone, Cl.Ly-1-2-NK-1+/11, displays Thy-1, Ly-5, Qat-4, Qat-5 and NK-1 cell surface antigens and lyses the NK-sensitive YAC-1 lymphoma cells, but does not lyse RL-12 cells, an NK-resistant lymphoma. In addition, this clone lysed the P815 mastocytoma, EL4 lymphoma, and lipopolysaccharide-activated B lymphocyte targets. This cloned population therefore combined information for a unique display of cell surface antigens and specialized function similar to "activated" NK cells. Because this cloned population forms conjugates with susceptible but not resistant target cells, it may prove useful to identify the structure of cell surface molecules that recognize foreign cells. Finally, cells of this clone also specificity lysed target cells coated by antibodies to determinants on the target cell surface, demonstrating that a single cloned cell population can mediate two specialized immunologic functions: antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and NK cell lysis.


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