title: Characterization by scanning and transmission electron microscopy of avian peripheral blood mononuclear cells exhibiting natural killer-like (NK) activity.
abstract: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MN) were isolated from 10-week-old Single Comb White Leghorn female chickens (Cornell K strain) and incubated with either LSCC-RP9 or P815 tumor cells at a ratio of 200:1. Samples were filtered through a 2 micron nucleopore filter at 15 min, 30 min, 1 hr, 2 h, 3 h, and 4 h following incubation to isolate conjugates for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For transmission electron microscopy (TEM), MN were incubated with LSCC-RP9 tumor cells at a ratio of 200:1 for 1 h. Conjugates in the suspension were fixed, stained, and embedded for thin sectioning. Samples were viewed to determine morphological characteristics of cells having NK-like ability and tumor cell destruction process. The MN possessing NK-like activity appear to be small lymphocytes (5-6 microns in diameter) with a small cytoplasm to nuclear ratio and many surface projections. In addition, it was shown that conjugate formation occurred in both tumor cell lines and the lymphocyte surface projections appear to play a role in the destruction process. Tumor cell destruction did occur with both cell lines, however, the LSCC-RP9 tumors cells were destroyed more rapidly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Poultry Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sieminski-Brodzina
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mashaly
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000276:immunology