title: Natural killer and lectin-dependent cytotoxic activities of Kurloff cells: target cell selectivity, conjugate formation, and Ca++ dependency.
abstract: Kurloff cells may represent a major component of NK cell activity in the guinea pig. We have pursued to characterize the mechanism of their action. Using murine target cells, we found Kurloff cell cytotoxicity to be selective for the NK-sensitive YAC-1 target cell, with minimal activity against the NK-resistant P815 target cell. In the presence of PHA, but not ConA, cytotoxicity was markedly augmented against both YAC-1 and P815. While effector-target conjugate formation was observed with YAC-1 cells but not P815 cells in control cultures, it was augmented with both target cell types in cultures with PHA. Pretreatment alone with PHA was ineffective, however. NK cell activity of Kurloff cells was dependent on extracellular Ca++ and entry of Ca++ into the effector cells, as demonstrated by abrogation of cytotoxicity when extracellular Ca++ was chelated with EDTA or EGTA, or following treatment with the Ca++ channel blockers verapamil and diltiazem. Furthermore, inhibition of PKC by H7 resulted in significant reduction of Kurloff cell-mediated NK activity, while pretreatment of effector cells with the PKC activator TPA enhanced NK activity. Kurloff cells could also be stimulated to produce serine esterases by contact with target cells or treatment with phorbol ester and ionophore. Finally, a majority of Kurloff cells, identified by the monoclonal antibody 14D1, reacted with the human NK cell marker CD56. Taken together, these data suggest that Kurloff cells have NK-like characteristics and activity, with target cell selectivity, and that their lytic mechanisms involve influx of extracellular Ca++, PKC activation and serine esterase production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pouliot
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maghni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blanchette
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cironi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sirois
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stankova
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rola-Pleszczynski
mesh_terms: D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004950:Esterases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007476:Ionophores / Q000494:pharmacology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013045:Species Specificity; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D002614:Chelating Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007476:Ionophores; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D004950:Esterases; D008274:Magnesium; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D002118:Calcium