scholarly journals Mouse NK cell–mediated rejection of bone marrow allografts exhibits patterns consistent with Ly49 subset licensing

Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 119 (6) ◽  
pp. 1590-1598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Sun ◽  
Maite Alvarez ◽  
Erik Ames ◽  
Isabel Barao ◽  
Mingyi Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Mhc Class I ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Marrow Cell ◽  
Class I ◽  
Mouse Strains

Abstract Natural killer (NK) cells can mediate the rejection of bone marrow allografts and exist as subsets based on expression of inhibitory/activating receptors that can bind MHC. In vitro data have shown that NK subsets bearing Ly49 receptors for self-MHC class I have intrinsically higher effector function, supporting the hypothesis that NK cells undergo a host MHC-dependent functional education. These subsets also play a role in bone marrow cell (BMC) allograft rejection. Thus far, little in vivo evidence for this preferential licensing across mouse strains with different MHC haplotypes has been shown. We assessed the intrinsic response potential of the different Ly49+ subsets in BMC rejection by using β2-microglobulin deficient (β2m−/−) mice as donors. Using congenic and allogeneic mice as recipients and depleting the different Ly49 subsets, we found that NK subsets bearing Ly49s, which bind “self-MHC” were found to be the dominant subset responsible for β2m−/− BMC rejection. This provides in vivo evidence for host MHC class I–dependent functional education. Interestingly, all H2d strain mice regardless of background were able to resist significantly greater amounts of β2m−/−, but not wild-type BMC than H2b mice, providing evidence that the rheostat hypothesis regarding Ly49 affinities for MHC and NK-cell function impacts BMC rejection capability.

Suppression of NK Cell-Mediated Bone Marrow Cell Rejection by CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells: Linkage of Adaptive to Innate Responses.

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 2195-2195
Author(s):  
William J. Murphy ◽  
Isabel Bareo ◽  
Alan M. Hanash ◽  
Lisbeth A. Welniak ◽  
Kai Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Regulatory T Cells ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Marrow Cell ◽  
Poly I:C ◽  
Hybrid Resistance

Abstract While a link between the innate to adaptive immune system has been established, studies demonstrating direct effects of T cells in regulating Natural Killer (NK) cell function have been lacking. Naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been shown to potently inhibit adaptive responses by T cells. We therefore investigated whether Tregs could affect NK cell function in vivo. Using a bone marrow transplantation (BMT) model of hybrid resistance, in which parental (H2d) marrow grafts are rejected by the NK cells of the F1 recipients (H2bxd), we demonstrate that the in vivo removal of host Tregs significantly enhances NK-cell mediated BM rejection. This heightened rejection was mediated by the specific NK cell Ly-49+ subset previously demonstrated to reject the BMC in this donor/host pairing. The depletion of Tregs could also further increase rejection already enhanced by treating recipients with the NK cell activator, poly I:C. Although splenic NK cell numbers were not significantly altered, increased splenic NK in vitro cytotoxic activity was observed from the recovered cells. The regulatory role of Tregs was confirmed in adoptive transfer studies in which transferred CD4+CD25+ Tregs resulted in abrogation of NK cell-mediated hybrid resistance. Thus, Tregs can potently inhibit NK cell function in vivo and their depletion may have therapeutic ramifications with NK cell function in BMT and cancer therapy.

Evidence That Novel NK-NK Cell Subset Regulation Exists With Regard To Effects In Tumor and Viral Models

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 1038-1038
Author(s):  
Ethan G Aguilar ◽  
Can M Sungur ◽  
Anthony E Zamora ◽  
William J Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Mhc Class I ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Class I ◽  
Inhibitory Receptors ◽  
The Individual

Abstract Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system and are classically associated with cytotoxic responses to both virally infected as well as neoplastic cells. Activation of NK cells to exhibit their cytotoxicity is dependent on signaling through a number of activating and inhibitory receptors. In mice, one such family of inhibitory receptors is the C-type lectin-like Ly49 family. In humans, the killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) serve as the primary family of inhibitory receptors and are functional analogs of the Ly49s. Despite markedly different structures, the Ly49s and KIRs display similar binding capabilities and bind primarily to distinct MHC class I haplotypes, which plays an important role in regulating NK cell function. NK cells that express inhibitory receptors that are specific for the MHC class I haplotype of the individual are termed “licensed” and have been shown to have increased functionality in terms of cytotoxicity and cytokine production. In contrast, NK cells that express inhibitory receptors that are unable to bind to the MHC class I haplotype of the individual are termed “unlicensed” and have been shown to be hyporesponsive. We have recently reported on the role of NK licensing on the immune response to viral infections such as MCMV. In addition, we have previously described how regulatory T cells can regulate NK cell activity in vivo. However, there are limited data examining the interaction and regulation between the different NK subsets based on differences in licensing. We hypothesized that different NK cell subsets, based on licensing, can regulate each other in the context of anti-tumor and anti-viral responses. Here we first provide in vitro data providing evidence to support the hypothesis of NK-NK regulation based on licensing. In vitro killing assays using MCMV infected fibroblasts, or C1498 (murine acute myeloid leukemia) cells as targets and using different combinations of murine NK Ly49 subsets as effectors were used to assess this NK-NK regulation. To further test our hypothesis, in vivo experiments were also performed using a mouse leukemia model as well as an MCMV model. Mice were injected with C1498 cells and then given hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The mice were then depleted of all NK cells or either licensed or unlicensed subsets by antibody depletion once a week, and monitored for survival. Mice that were depleted of the unlicensed population survived significantly longer compared with the other depleted groups, suggesting a negative regulation of the anti-tumor response by the unlicensed population resulting in greater tumor burden and death in the presence of the unlicensed population. This negative regulation by the unlicensed population is further supported by another experiment where mice were infected with MCMC following total NK or subset depletion and monitored for ten days throughout the course of the immune response to MCMV. Mice that were depleted of their unlicensed population displayed a significantly larger expansion of the licensed population of NK cells, without reciprocal greater expansion of the unlicensed population upon licensed NK cell depletion. More specifically, depletion of the unlicensed population resulted in an expansion of the Ly49H+NK cells which have previously been shown to be the primary effector population during MCMV infection. Thus, the unlicensed NK cells are playing a role in down-regulating the anti-viral response by limiting the expansion of the effector licensed population. Our data highlight a role for the murine NK subsets to negatively regulate the immune response of the effector licensed NK population in the context of anti-tumor and anti-viral responses. This new insight into the regulatory role of NK cells may have clinical benefit for patients receiving bone marrow transplants during cancer treatment to enhance graft vs. tumor effects, and to combat opportunistic viral infections that may manifest in the immune compromised environment of the BMT patient. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Augmentation of antitumor effects by NK cell inhibitory receptor blockade in vitro and in vivo

Blood ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 97 (10) ◽  
pp. 3132-3137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Crystal Y. Koh ◽  
Bruce R. Blazar ◽  
Thaddeus George ◽  
Lisbeth A. Welniak ◽  
Christian M. Capitini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antitumor Activity ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Mhc Class I ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Class I ◽  
Inhibitory Receptors ◽  
Antitumor Effects

Abstract Subsets of natural killer (NK) cells are characterized by the expression of inhibitory and/or stimulatory receptors specific for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I determinants. In mice, these include the Ly49 family of molecules. One mechanism by which tumor cells may evade NK cell killing is by expressing the appropriate MHC class I and binding inhibitory Ly49 receptors. Therefore, the question of whether blocking the interaction between the Ly49 inhibitory receptors on NK and MHC class I cells on tumor cells augments antitumor activity was investigated. Blockade of Ly49C and I inhibitory receptors using F(ab′)2 fragments of the 5E6 monoclonal antibody (mAb) resulted in increased cytotoxicity against syngeneic tumors and decreased tumor cell growth in vitro. The effect of 5E6 F(ab′)2 was specific for the MHC of the tumor, as the use of F(ab′)2 of the mAb against Ly49G2 failed to increase NK activity. Treatment of leukemia-bearing mice with 5E6 F(ab′)2 fragments or adoptive transfer of NK cells treated ex vivo with the F(ab′)2 resulted in significant increases in survival. These results demonstrate that blockade of NK inhibitory receptors enhances antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that NK inhibitory receptors can be responsible for diminishing antitumor responses. Therefore, strategies to block inhibitory receptors may be of potential use in increasing the efficacy of immunotherapy.

NK Cell-Mediated Rejection of Bone Marrow Cells- In Vivo Evidence of NK Cell Subset Licensing.

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 3537-3537
Author(s):  
Kai Sun ◽  
Isabel Barao ◽  
Doug Redelman ◽  
William Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Mhc Class I ◽  
Bone Marrow Cells ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Cell Subset ◽  
Effector Function ◽  
Class I ◽  
Self Tolerance

Abstract Abstract 3537 Poster Board III-474 Natural killer (NK) cells have been shown to attack virally-infected and transformed cells as well allogeneic bone marrow cells (BMC) but not normal self-tissues. The mechanism of missing self recognition and self tolerance of NK cells is poorly understood. NK cells exist as subsets based on expression of inhibitory receptors (Ly49 in mouse, KIR in man) that bind MHC class molecules. In vitro data have shown that murine NK cell subsets bearing Ly49 receptors for self MHC class I molecules have intrinsically higher effector function, supporting the hypothesis that NK cells undergo a host MHC class I-dependent functional education, allowing the NK cells bearing the appropriate Ly49 receptors to preferentially mediate effector function. Thus far, no in vivo evidence for this preferential licensing or arming has been shown. We assessed the intrinsic response potential of the different Ly49+ NK cell subsets in BMC rejection without having the complicating effects of binding MHC on the target cell (which delivers potent inhibitory signals to the NK cell) by using β2-microglobulin deficient (β2m−/−) mice as donors which totally lack class I MHC molecules. Using syngeneic, congenic, and allogeneic strains of mice as recipients and depleting the different Ly49 subsets, we found that NK cell subsets whose Ly49 molecules have been shown to bind “self-MHC Class I” (ie Ly49G2 in H2d and Ly49C in H2b haplotypes) were found to be the dominant subset responsible for mediating the rejection of the β2m−/− BMC. This provides the first in vivo evidence for host MHC class I-dependent functional education (licensing or arming). Importantly, we also demonstrated that prior activation of the NK cells in vivo could override this licensing effect and allow the “non-licensed subset” to mediate rejection. The pattern of NK mediated rejection ability by Ly49 subsets was observed in B10D2 allogeneic H2d strain mice but not observed in BALB/c allogeneic H2d strain mice indicating that licensing ability was not solely dependent on host MHC expression and supporting the role of MHC class I–independent system for NK-cell self-tolerance. Interestingly, all H2d strain mice (B10.D2, BALB/c, and B6D2F1) were able to resist significantly greater amounts of B2m-/- BMC than H2b strain mice indicating that the rheostat hypothesis regarding Ly49 affinities for MHC and NK cell function impacts BMC rejection capability. These results demonstrate that both MHC and non-MHC genes on the host has multiple effects on NK cell subset-mediated BMC rejection and that licensing or arming of Ly49 NK cell subsets can be observed in vivo. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Increased bone marrow allograft rejection by depletion of NK cells expressing inhibitory Ly49 NK receptors for donor class I antigens

Blood ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 100 (8) ◽  
pp. 3026-3033 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arati Raziuddin ◽  
Dan L. Longo ◽  
Michael Bennett ◽  
Robin Winkler-Pickett ◽  
John R. Ortaldo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Marrow Cell ◽  
Cell Subset ◽  
Cell Interaction ◽  
Class I ◽  
Inhibitory Receptors ◽  
Mhc Molecules

Natural killer (NK) cells are the major effectors of acute rejection of incompatible bone marrow cell (BMC) grafts in lethally irradiated mice. The immunogenetics of BMC rejection are largely controlled by the coexpression (or not) of inhibitory and stimulatory Ly49 receptors whose ligands are class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. The majority of the BMC rejection studies involved low numbers of BMCs that were resisted by host NK cells. In the present study, larger numbers of BMCs were given in which rejection was not detected and the role of different Ly49 NK subsets not presumably involved in the rejection of a particular BMC haplotype was examined. Surprisingly, the data show that the removal of NK cell subsets expressing Ly49 inhibitory receptors for donor class I antigens, which would be predicted to have no effect on the BMC rejection capability, resulted in the marked rejection of BMCs where no resistance was normally seen. These results extend the “missing self” hypothesis to suggest that NK Ly49 inhibitory receptors can both inhibit activation and killing by those cells, but also can in some way influence the function of NK cells that do not express that inhibitory receptor in a cell-cell interaction. This suggests that caution must be exercised before removal of host NK cell subset is applied clinically because enhanced BMC rejection may result. Altering the balance of Ly49 NK subsets may also affect other in vivo activities of these cells.

Contribution of Natural Killer Cells to Inhibition of Angiogenesis by Interleukin-12

Blood ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
pp. 1612-1621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Yao ◽  
Cecilia Sgadari ◽  
Keizo Furuke ◽  
Eda T. Bloom ◽  
Julie Teruya-Feldstein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Primary Cultures ◽  
Interleukin 12 ◽  
Ifn Γ

Abstract Interleukin-12 (IL-12) inhibits angiogenesis in vivo by inducing interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and other downstream mediators. Here, we report that neutralization of natural killer (NK) cell function with antibodies to either asialo GM1 or NK 1.1 reversed IL-12 inhibition of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced angiogenesis in athymic mice. By immunohistochemistry, those sites where bFGF-induced neovascularization was inhibited by IL-12 displayed accumulation of NK cells and the presence of IP-10–positive cells. Based on expression of the cytolytic mediators perforin and granzyme B, the NK cells were locally activated. Experimental Burkitt lymphomas treated locally with IL-12 displayed tumor tissue necrosis, vascular damage, and NK-cell infiltration surrounding small vessels. After activation in vitro with IL-12, NK cells from nude mice became strongly cytotoxic for primary cultures of syngeneic aortic endothelial cells. Cytotoxicity was neutralized by antibodies to IFN-γ. These results document that NK cells are required mediators of angiogenesis inhibition by IL-12, and provide evidence that NK-cell cytotoxicity of endothelial cells is a potential mechanism by which IL-12 can suppress neovascularization.

The IL-15 Super-Agonist ALT-803 Promotes Superior Activation and Cytotoxicity of Ex Vivo Expanded NK Cells Against AML

Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 3090-3090 ◽  
Author(s):  
Folashade Otegbeye ◽  
Nathan Mackowski ◽  
Evelyn Ojo ◽  
Marcos De Lima ◽  
David N. Wald
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Leukemia Cells ◽  
Activating Receptor

Abstract Introduction: A crucial component of the innate immune response system, natural killer (NK) cells are uniquely competent to mediate anti-myeloid leukemia responses. NKG2D is an activating receptor on the surface of NK cells that engages stress ligands MICA and MICB, typically upregulated on myeloid leukemia cells. Adoptive transfer of NK cells is a promising treatment strategy for AML. Strategies to optimize the anti-leukemia effect of NK cell adoptive transfer are an area of active research. These include attempts to enhance NK cell activity and to maintain the activation status and proliferation of the NK cells in vivo. Traditionally, IL-2 has been used to maintain the in vivo proliferation of adoptively transferred NK cells, but it leads to unwanted proliferation of regulatory T cells and suboptimal NK cell proliferation. IL-15 may be superior to IL-2, without the effects on T regulatory cells. The IL-15 superagonist, ALT-803 exhibits >25 fold enhancement in biological activity as compared to IL-15. ALT-803 is a fusion protein of an IL-15 mutant and the IL-15Rα/Fc complex that has recently entered clinical trials as a direct immunomodulatory agent in cancer clinical trials We hypothesized ALT-803 would augment the activity and/or proliferation of adoptively transferred NK cells in vitro and in a mouse model system.. Methods: Human NK cells were isolated from healthy donor peripheral blood and were expanded over a 21-day period in co-culture with irradiated K562 cells genetically modified to express membrane-bound IL-21. (Somanchi et al. 2011 JoVE 48. doi: 10.3791/2540) The NK cells were expanded with IL-2 (50mU/mL) and/or ALT-803 (200ng/mL). On Day 21, NK cells were examined for cytotoxicity against AML cells as well as by flow cytometry for expression of known activating receptors. An NSG murine xenograft model of human AML was developed to test the in vivo function of NK cells expanded above. Briefly, NSG mice (n=5 per group) were non-lethally irradiated and each injected IV with 5 x106 OCI-AML3 leukemic cells. Two days later, each mouse received weekly NK cell infusions for 2 weeks. Mice that received NK cells expanded with IL2 got cytokine support with IL-2 (75kU IP three times a week). Mice infused with ALT-803 expanded cells (alone or in combination with IL2) received ALT-803 (0.2mg/kg IV weekly). One control group received OCI cells but were infused weekly only with 2% FBS vehicle, no NK cells. Leukemic burden in each mouse was assessed by flow cytometry of bone marrow aspirates on day 28 following start of NK cell infusions). This time point was chosen as the control mice appeared moribund. Results: ALT-803 did not have any differential effect on the proliferation of the NK cells ex vivo as compared to IL-2. However, the presence of ALT-803 either alone or in combination with IL-2 resulted in a significant increase (30% increase, p<0.0001) in the cytotoxic activity of the NK cells against leukemia cells as compared with IL-2 alone in vitro (figure 1). In addition, the percentages of NK cells that express the activating receptor NKG2D as well as CD16 were significantly higher (p<0.001 for both) after ALT-803 exposure (figure 1). Finally, in the murine xenograft AML model, ALT-803 expanded NK cells, which were also supported in vivo with ALT-803, resulted in an 8-fold reduction in disease burden in the bone marrow (p<0.0001). Importantly the efficacy of NK cells in the ALT-803 injected mice was significantly higher (3-fold, p= 0.0447) than IL-2 treated mice (figure 2). Discussion: Our results suggest that the presence of ALT-803 during ex-vivo expansion of NK cells results in increased activation and cytotoxicity against AML cells. In addition our results using a murine model of human AML show that the use of ALT-803 in combination with adoptively transferred NK cells provides a significant anti-leukemic benefit as compared to IL-2. Future studies to test larger panels of leukemia cells as well as other cancer cell lines are currently in progress. It is hoped that this work will lead to an improvement in the efficacy of adoptively transferred NK cells for AML patients due to an improvement in survival and activity of the NK cells. Disclosures Wald: Invenio Therapeutics: Equity Ownership.

Azacytidine Compromises NK-Cell Activity in AML and MDS Patients Undergoing MRD-Based Pre-Emptive Treatment After Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 4122-4122
Author(s):  
Katja Sockel ◽  
Claudia Schönefeldt ◽  
Sieghart Sopper ◽  
Martin Wermke ◽  
Marc Schmitz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cell ◽  
Stem Cell Transplantation ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Cell Activity ◽  
Nk Cell Activity ◽  
Activating Receptors

Abstract Abstract 4122 The hypomethylating agent azacytidine (AZA) represents the standard treatment for many high-risk MDS and AML patients. While the clinical efficacy has been confirmed in several studies, the precise molecular mechanism of action has not been fully understood yet. Human NK-cells play an important role in the regulation of immune responses against malignant cells. Their function is controlled by a complex interplay of activating and inhibitory receptors - some of them being regulated by methylation of the respective genes. We, therefore explored, whether AZA modulates in vitro NK-cell function as well as in vivo during minimal-residual disease (MRD)-guided treatment of imminent relapse in MDS and AML patients treated within the prospective RELAZA trial (NCT00422890). Methods: After purifying NK-cells of healthy donors by MACS (magnetic cell sorting), NK-cells were exposed in vitro to different concentrations of AZA (100nM, 1μM, 3μM) with or without IL-2. In parallel, the NK-cell phenotype of patients (n=12) with AML or MDS, undergoing MRD-guided treatment with AZA after stem cell transplantation was monitored by FACS from peripheral blood samples on day 1, 5 and 7 of the first and second AZA cycle. All patients were still in complete haematological remission at the time of therapy. Results: In vitro, we observed a significant reduction (3,1% to 1,8% p=0.028) of the immature and cytokine-regulating CD56bright NK-cell subpopulation with increasing concentrations of AZA. There was a trend towards a reduced expression of the death-ligand TRAIL, the activating receptors NKG2D and NKp46 and for an increased expression of the inhibitory KIR CD158b1/b2, whereas we could not detect any changes in the expression of FAS-L, Perforin, Granzyme B, NKp30, NKp44, CD69, CD57, DNAM-1, CD16, and NKG2A-CD94. Confirmatory, we observed a significant decrease in the expression of TRAIL (p=0.003), NKG2D (p=0.03) and NKp46 (p=0.006) during AZA treatment in-vivo. Interestingly, these changes appeared to be reversible. The observed reduction of NK-cell activating receptors and TRAIL during AZA treatment correlated with a reduction or stable course of MRD in all analyzed patients. Conclusion: In summary these data suggest that the clinical effects of AZA are not mediated by enhancing NK-cell activity. In fact, the drug may have inhibitory effects on NK-cell function which should be considered when applying AZA in the post-transplant setting. Disclosures: Platzbecker: Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.

scholarly journals Immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif–dependent functions of an MHC class I-specific NK cell receptor

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (40) ◽  
pp. E8440-E8447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Bern ◽  
Diana L. Beckman ◽  
Takashi Ebihara ◽  
Samantha M. Taffner ◽  
Jennifer Poursine-Laurent ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nk Cells ◽  
Mhc Class I ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Cell Receptor ◽  
Class I ◽  
Class I Mhc ◽  
Mhc I ◽  
Receptor Repertoire

Natural killer (NK) cells express MHC class I (MHC-I)-specific receptors, such as Ly49A, that inhibit killing of cells expressing self–MHC-I. Self–MHC-I also “licenses” NK cells to become responsive to activating stimuli and regulates the surface level of NK-cell inhibitory receptors. However, the mechanisms of action resulting from these interactions of the Ly49s with their MHC-I ligands, particularly in vivo, have been controversial. Definitive studies could be derived from mice with targeted mutations in inhibitory Ly49s, but there are inherent challenges in specifically altering a single gene within a multigene family. Herein, we generated a knock-in mouse with a targeted mutation in the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM) of Ly49A that abolished the inhibitory function of Ly49A in cytotoxicity assays. This mutant Ly49A caused a licensing defect in NK cells, but the surface expression of Ly49A was unaltered. Moreover, NK cells that expressed this mutant Ly49A exhibited an altered inhibitory receptor repertoire. These results demonstrate that Ly49A ITIM signaling is critical for NK-cell effector inhibition, licensing, and receptor repertoire development.

scholarly journals Natural Killer Cell Tolerance in Mice with Mosaic Expression of Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I Transgene

1997 ◽  
Vol 186 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria H. Johansson ◽  
Charles Bieberich ◽  
Gilbert Jay ◽  
Klas Kärre ◽  
Petter Höglund
Keyword(s):  
Major Histocompatibility Complex ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Mhc Class I ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Class I ◽  
Cell Tolerance ◽  
Histocompatibility Complex ◽  
Missing Self

We have studied natural killer (NK) cell tolerance in a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I transgenic line, DL6, in which the transgene product was expressed on only a fraction of blood cells. In contrast with transgenic mice expressing the same transgene in all cells, NK cells from mosaic mice failed to reject transgene-negative bone marrow or lymphoma grafts. However, they retained the capability to reject cells with a total missing-self phenotype, i.e., cells lacking also wild-type MHC class I molecules. Tolerance against transgene-negative cells was demonstrated also in vitro, and could be broken if transgene-positive spleen cells of mosaic mice were separated from negative cells before, or after 4 d of culture in interleukin-2. The results provide support for selective NK cell tolerance to one particular missing-self phenotype but not to another. We suggest that this tolerance is determined by NK cell interactions with multiple cells in the environment, and that it is dominantly controlled by the presence of cells lacking a specific MHC class I ligand. Furthermore, the tolerant NK cells could be reactivated in vitro, which suggests that the tolerance occurs without deletion of the potentially autoreactive NK cell subset(s), and that it may be dependent upon the continuous presence of tolerizing cells.

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