TCR alpha beta+ anti-tumor cytolytic T lymphocytes express NKR-P1 whilethe anti-tumor activity of TCR gamma delta+ T lymphocytes is not correlated to NKR-P1 expression.
The CD8 alpha alpha homodimer as well as the NK cell receptor-protein 1 (NKR-P1) have been implicated to be preferentially expressed by T cells that develop extrathymically. We have earlier shown that intraperitoneal administration of radiated syngeneic W439 lymphoma cells in rat induces tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL) expressing the TCR alpha beta receptor as well as the TCR gamma delta receptor. In the present study we have addressed the expression of CD8 alpha alpha /alpha beta and NKR-P1 on these CTL and their correlation to cytotoxicity activity against the W439 tumor. The induced CD8+ T cells differentiated to effective cytotoxic cells regardless of the CD8 composition. NKR-P1+ T cells expressing CD8 were found in the peritoneal cavity of untreated rats and this cell population was markedly increased upon lymphoma immunization. Both TCR alpha beta+ cells and TCR gamma delta+ cells expressing NKR-P1 showed high cytotoxicity against the tumor. TCR gamma delta+ NKR-P1- cells were also cytotoxic against the tumor, while TCR alpha beta+ NKR-P1- cells showed no cytotoxicity. NKR-P1+ T cells (TCR alpha beta+ and TCR gamma delta+) were not cytotoxic against NK sensitive targets, which contradicts earlier data implicating a correlation between the expression of NKR-P1 and MHC-unrestricted cytotoxicity. In conclusion, TCR alpha beta+ anti-lymphoma CTL express high levels of LFA-1 and NKR-P1, while the TCR gamma delta+ CTL are not dependant on NKR-P1. These results suggest that NKR-P1 has a different function within the TCR alpha beta+ CTL than within the TCR gamma delta+ CTL in the recognition process of these lymphoma cells.
The Wallenberg Laboratory, Lund University, Sweden.
U
U
Yrlid
E
E
Petersson
M
M
Dohlsten
G
G
Hedlund
D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000276:immunology*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic