Studies on the relationship of human natural killer and lymphokine-activated killer cells with lysosomal staining and analysis of surface marker phenotypes.
We have previously demonstrated that natural killer (NK) cells are lysosome-rich and stain more intensely with lysosomotropic agents such as neutral red and quinacrine (Qu) than do non-NK cells. In this study we combined the quantitation of Qu staining with surface marker staining to define subpopulations of NK cells. While all NK activity was contained within the Qu+ population, most but not all NK cells expressed the surface marker CD16. A subpopulation of NK cells was found to be Qu+CD16- composed of medium- to large-sized cells with a granular appearance on Giemsa staining. Culture with interleukin-2 (IL-2) induced enhanced cytotoxicity in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) against NK-sensitive and NK-resistant tumor cells. Like NK cells, these lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells were predominantly Qu+CD16+. However, some LAK cells were Qu+CD16-. The Qu+CD16+ cells were typical large granular lymphocytes (LGL). The Qu+CD16- cells were also large lymphocytes, more than 50% of which were proliferating. However, the granulation in some Qu+CD16- cells, as detected by Giemsa staining, was more prominent and numerous than others in the same population. No LAK activity was ever detected in Qu- cells, which were uniformly small lymphocytes. Quantitation of Qu staining in effector cells was therefore demonstrated to have a good correlation with NK and LAK functions, and with surface markers can help to characterize both types of cells. Moreover, these results indicate that both NK and LAK populations include a small subset of CD16- cells in each.
Shau
H
H
Department of Microbiology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90033.
Gray
D
D
Mitchell
M S
MS
D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000032:analysis*; D010641:Phenotype; D011796:Quinacrine; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000032:analysis; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D011796:Quinacrine