title: Enhancing effect of 17 beta-estradiol on human NK cell activity.
abstract: The in vitro effect of 17 beta-estradiol on NK activity was studied. The proliferation and NK activity of YT-N17 (a human NK-like cell line) were enhanced by 17 beta-estradiol (E2), and the enhancement was blocked by tamoxifen (Tx), an antagonist of E2. On the contrary, other steroid hormones such as Tx, progesterone, and testosterone had no effect. YT-N17 contained 11.8 fmol/mg protein of estrogen receptor (mean of two independent assays), a value which was 5-10-fold higher than that of other hematopoietic cell lines. An enhancement of NK activity by E2 was also seen in large granular lymphocytes obtained from normal subjects, and it was again suppressed by Tx. These data suggest that E2 is one of the activating factors for NK/LGL cells.
authors.affiliation: Second Division of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sorachi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumagai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugita
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yodoi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Imura
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D004261:DNA Replication; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D013629:Tamoxifen; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol