title: CD2 is functionally linked to the zeta-natural killer receptor complex.
abstract: Natural killer (NK) cells express two distinct surface receptors capable of triggering cytolytic effector function. The first is CD16, an immunoglobulin Fc receptor that allows NK cells to mediate antibody-dependent killing (ADCC). NK cells express CD16 in association with zeta, a signal-transducing subunit that is also a component of the T cell receptor complex. Activation of NK cells via CD16 results in tyrosine phosphorylation of zeta. The second NK cell triggering receptor is CD2, a 50-55-kDa cell surface molecule that is also expressed on T cells. Here we show that NK cell activation induced by mAb reactive with CD2 (either anti-T11.1 alone or with anti-T11.2 in combination) also results in the tyrosine phosphorylation of zeta. Our results indicate that CD2 is functionally linked to the CD16-zeta complex and suggest that the zeta subunit plays a central role in the signal transduction pathways utilized by NK cells.
authors.affiliation: Division of Tumor Immunology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vivier
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Morin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Schlossman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000502:physiology*; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000502:physiology*; D018801:CD2 Antigens; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000502:physiology*; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology*; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D018801:CD2 Antigens; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D014443:Tyrosine