title: NK-lysin, structure and function of a novel effector molecule of porcine T and NK cells.
abstract: NK-lysin (NKL), a 78-residue antimicrobial peptide, was isolated from pig small intestine. Standard methods identified the peptide as basic, with six half-cystine residues in three intrachain disulphide bonds. The sequence showed 33% identity with a part of a putative gene product (NKG5) from activated T and NK cells, NK-lysin showed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus megaterium and marked lytic activity against YAC-1, a NK sensitive tumour cell line, while sheep red blood cells were unaffected. The cDNA clone corresponding to NK-lysin has been characterized. We have also analyzed the cell and tissue specific expression and the induction of the gene. A lymphocyte fraction enriched in T and NK cells, stimulated by human interleukin-2 (IL-2), showed a 30-fold increase of the NKL transcript. NK-lysin specific mRNA is also detectable in spleen, bone marrow and colon. Immunostaining showed NKL to be present in different types of lymphocytes. Our results strongly suggest that NK-lysin is involved in the inducible cytotoxicity of T and NK cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Stockholm University, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gunne
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Agerberth
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boman
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bergman
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dagerlind
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wigzell
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Boman
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Gudmundsson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D011510:Proteolipids / Q000032:analysis*; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000032:analysis*; D013552:Swine; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; C093238:NK-lysin; D011510:Proteolipids; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants