Ly49A inhibitory receptors redistribute on natural killer cells during target cell interaction.
When T effector cells meet antigen-bearing target cells, there is a specific accumulation of T-cell receptors, co-receptors and structural proteins at the point of cell-cell contact. Ly49 inhibitory receptors bind to murine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules and prevent natural killer-(NK) cell cytotoxicity. In this study we have tested whether inhibitory receptors accumulate at the point of cell-cell contact when NK cells encounter target cells bearing MHC class I ligands for those inhibitory receptors. We have used RNK-16 effector cells that express Ly49A receptors and have found that there was a specific accumulation of Ly49A receptors at the point of NK cell-target cell contact when the target cells expressed H-2Dd. We also observed that engagement of Ly49A on NK cells resulted in an altered redistribution of potential triggering receptors CD2 and NKR-P1. These data indicate that inhibitory receptors, like activating receptors, may specifically aggregate at the point of cell-cell contact which may be necessary for them to mediate their full inhibitory effect.
Eriksson
M
M
Umeå Center for Molecular Pathogenesis, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Ryan
J C
JC
Nakamura
M C
MC
Sentman
C L
CL
D000818:Animals; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D018801:CD2 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D051381:Rats; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D055630:Receptors, NK Cell Lectin-Like; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000950:Antigens, Ly; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D018801:CD2 Antigens; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D055630:Receptors, NK Cell Lectin-Like