Characteristics of human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1)-infected cell line MT-2, which is not killed by a natural killer cell line NK-92 but is killed by lymphokine-activated killer cells.
Natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytolysis (NK-lysis) is triggered by costimulatory signals of adhesion molecules and is downregulated by negative signals of killer cell inhibitory receptors (KIRs). Recently, a NK cell line, NK-92, was established. This cell line can kill several tumor cells, which possess adhesion molecules CD54 and CD102. However, the NK-92 cannot kill a human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-infected cell line, MT-2, although lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells can kill MT-2. In this report we investigated the reason for LAK sensitivity but NK-92 resistance of the MT-2. The MT-2 highly expressed CD54 and CD102, suggesting that the costimulatory signals may be intact. Then we tested the responsibility of the negative signals by determining HLA type of the MT-2 and KIRs of the effector cells. The MT-2 expressed HLA-A24, B40, B51, Cw3, and HLA-G. The NK-92 did not express KIR2DL1, KIR2DL2,3, nor KIR3DL1, but 24% of the cells weakly expressed CD94. The blocking tests against these HLA class I molecules and KIRs did not restore the NK-92 resistance, although blocking against HLA-G slightly increased its lysis. Finally, in order to eliminate the class I molecules from the cell surface, we treated the MT-2 using a buffered citric acid solution (pH 3.8). By using this treatment, the expression of class I molecules and HTLV-1 antigen decreased, and then the MT-2 was killed by the NK-92. These findings suggest that an aberrant class I molecule of the MT-2 transferred a negative signal to the NK-92 and induced the NK-92 resistance. It remains to be elucidated whether or not the HTLV-1 infection contributed to the alteration of the class I molecule.
Komatsu
F
F
Blood Transfusion Service, School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
Yoshida
S
S
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000276:immunology; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000187:drug effects; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing / Q000379:methods; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D002614:Chelating Agents; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D019343:Citric Acid