The glycosylation profile of interleukin-2 activated human lymphocytes correlates to their anti-tumor activity.
BACKGROUND
Natural killer cells display spontaneous, non-MHC-restricted cytotoxicity against tumour cells, which is strongly enhanced after incubation with IL-2. The molecular background of the increased anti-tumour activity of these lymphokine-activated killer cells is still only partly understood.


METHODS
In this paper, investigation has been made of the correlation between cell surface glycosylation and anti-tumour activity of LAK cells by stimulating peripheral blood lymphocytes with interleukin-2, in the presence of inhibitors of N- and O-glycosylation.


RESULTS
Inhibition of N- or O-glycosylation of proteins during IL-2 activation leads to a 70-80% decrease in the cytolytic activity of LAK cells against K562 and Daudi tumour cells, coinciding with drastic alterations in their cell surface carbohydrate profile.


CONCLUSIONS
The conclusion is drawn that there is a clear correlation between the glycosylation of LAK cell glycoproteins and their anti-tumour activity which points to the involvement of cell surface glycoconjugates in the development of LAK activity.
Voshol
H
H
Utrecht University, Bijvoet Center, Dept. of Bio-Organic Chemistry, The Netherlands.
Dullens
H F
HF
Den Otter
W
W
Vliegenthart
J F
JF
D017485:1-Deoxynojirimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000116:Acetylgalactosamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D001593:Benzyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000628:therapy; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006031:Glycosylation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004915:Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute / Q000628:therapy; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D017026:Swainsonine / Q000494:pharmacology
D001593:Benzyl Compounds; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007376:Interleukin-2; D017485:1-Deoxynojirimycin; C080739:benzyl-alpha-N-acetylgalactosamine; D000116:Acetylgalactosamine; D017026:Swainsonine