title: Characterization of natural killer cytotoxic factor (NKCF) from canine NK cells.
abstract: We investigated the presence of canine natural killer cytotoxic factor (NKCF). Canine natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity measured by 51chromium (51Cr) release assay was found to be highest in the T-cell population, which was fractionated into the 35-40% Percoll fraction by discontinuous gradient centrifugation. The cytotoxicity of NKCF in the culture supernatant showed a similar tendency to NK activity. Release of NKCF was rapid after contact with target cells, and reached a plateau in 60 min. The cytotoxicity of NKCF could be detected within at least 15 min in coculture with CL-1 target cells, reaching a plateau in 60 min. We also characterized canine NKCF and found it to be a protein, which was stable against both heat and cold treatment. These findings suggest that canine NK cells release NKCF immediately after recognition and binding to the target cell, and that NKCF plays an important role in canine NK-mediated cytotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of VEterinary Radiology, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Nihon University, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakada
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soga
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kosaka
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsukatani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyamori
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuwabara
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Koide
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004285:Dogs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D055646:Killer Factors, Yeast; D007700:Kinetics; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D055646:Killer Factors, Yeast; D011506:Proteins