title: Autogeneic but not allogeneic earthworm effector coelomocytes kill the mammalian tumor cell target K562.
abstract: Earthworm coelomocytes have been used as effector cells against the human tumor target, K562. To first assess the viability of effectors, incorporation of [3H]-thymidine was tested and was higher in autogeneic (A<==A, self) than in allogeneic (A<==>B, nonself) coelomocytes. A<==>A showed significantly greater numbers in S, G2, or M phases than A<==>B coelomocytes. When A<==>A or A<==>B were cultured, no significant cell killing occurred in either, as measured in a 4-hr 51Cr release assay. A<==>A but not A<==>B killed K562 target cells. Cytotoxicity was dependent upon membrane binding between small, electron-dense coelomocytes and targets; it was enhanced by adding PHA. The heat labile supernatant from A<==>A but not from A<==>B killed K562 targets after cultivation for 10 min at 22 degrees C, but not immediately after washing. Recognition of, binding to, and killing of foreign cells in a natural killer cell-like reaction may reflect natural immunity in earthworms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cossarizza
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salvioli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capri
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Quaglino
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franceschi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000276:immunology; D002474:Cell-Free System / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D004915:Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute / Q000276:immunology*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; D007519:Isoantigens; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins