title: Identification of an evolutionarily conserved, function-associated molecule on human natural killer cells.
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 (greater than 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 dimeric structure was involved (distinct from antigen receptors on T cells). Thus, this molecule appears to be a candidate NK cell antigen receptor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721.
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jaso-Friedmann
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Devlin
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Koren
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic