Normal epithelial cells modulating HLA class I surface molecules are susceptible to lysis mediated by CD3(+) and CD3(-) "nonspecific" killer cells.
Natural killer (NK) cells and NK-like T cells have been described as efficiently lysing neoplastic cells derived from hematopoietic tumors. By modulating the expression of HLA class I surface molecules on normal epithelial cells, we also observed that nonneoplastic cells can efficiently be lysed by "nonspecific" effectors. Clonal analysis clearly demonstrates that the presence of HLA-specific inhibitory NK receptors, such as CD94, CD158a, and CD158b, described on NK cells, is responsible for the inhibitory signal. Thus, NK cells, as well as NK-like T cells, in the absence of HLA surface molecules on normal target cells, efficiently lyse epithelial cells.
Semino
C
C
Centro di Biotecnologie Avanzate, Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Italy.
Pietra
G
G
Semino
A
A
Falco
M
M
Varaldo
M
M
Melioli
G
G
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I