title: Engagement of CD160 receptor by HLA-C is a triggering mechanism used by circulating natural killer (NK) cells to mediate cytotoxicity.
abstract: Circulating human natural killer (NK) lymphocytes have been functionally defined by their ability to exert cytotoxic activity against MHC class I-negative target cell lines, including K562. Therefore, it was proposed that NK cells recognized the "missing self." We show here that the Ig-like CD160 receptor expressed by circulating CD56(dim+) NK cells or IL-2-deprived NK cell lines is mainly involved in their cytotoxic activity against K562 target cells. Further, we report that HLA-C molecules that are constitutively expressed by K562 trigger NK cell lysis through CD160 receptor engagement. In addition, we demonstrate, with recombinant soluble HLA-Cw3 and CD160 proteins, direct interaction of these molecules. We also find that CD158b inhibitory receptors partially interfere with CD160-mediated cytotoxicity, whereas CD94CD159a and CD85j have no effect on engagement with their respective ligands. Thus, CD160HLA-C interaction constitutes a unique pathway to trigger NK cell cytotoxic activity.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U563, Hôpital Purpan, 31059 Toulouse Cedex 3, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Le Bouteiller
authors.forename: Aliz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barakonyi
authors.forename: Jérome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Giustiniani
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lenfant
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marie-Cardine
authors.forename: Maryse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aguerre-Girr
authors.forename: Magali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rabot
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hilgert
authors.forename: Fathia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mami-Chouaib
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tabiasco
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boumsell
authors.forename: Armand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bensussan
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000502:physiology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D015236:HLA-C Antigens / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000502:physiology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology*; D054340:Receptors, KIR; D054344:Receptors, KIR2DL3
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C114505:CD160 protein, human; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D015236:HLA-C Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D054340:Receptors, KIR; D054344:Receptors, KIR2DL3