title: Identification and characterization of clonal NK-like cells from channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus).
abstract: TcR alpha, beta, and gamma chain negative cytotoxic NK-like cells were cloned from alloantigen-stimulated PBL obtained from nai;ve channel catfish. Stimulation with allogeneic cells and growth promoting factors are required for their continued in vitro proliferation and cytotoxic activity. These granular cells kill not only the stimulating allogeneic cells, but also unrelated allogeneic targets by a perforin/granzyme-mediated apoptosis pathway. In addition, they are negative for markers that define neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages, and non-specific cytotoxic cells. Although these NK-like clones kill a number of different allogeneic targets, they display interclonal variation in cytotoxicity toward a panel of allogeneic targets, i.e. some clones have no apparent target specificity, while others display a target preference. In addition, flow cytometric analyses revealed that expression of a putative FcmuR, an LFA-1-like molecule, and a putative thymocyte/T cell antigen varies among the different clones, with no clear correlation between surface antigen expression and cytotoxic activity. Although not all clones express a putative FcmuR, it was noted that they all expressed an ITAM containing FcepsilonR gamma chain homolog. This finding suggests that the catfish FcepsilonR gamma chain may potentially be used as an accessory molecule for not only FcmuRs, but also for other unknown activation receptors. These results support the hypothesis that catfish NK-like cells are heterogeneous in terms of target specificities and cell surface phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
authors.forename: Linling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Tor B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Stuge
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bengtén
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: V Gregory
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Chinchar
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Naftel
authors.forename: Jayne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bernanke
authors.forename: L William
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Clem
authors.forename: Norman W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity / Q000276:immunology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007059:Ictaluridae / Q000276:immunology*; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D054353:Perforin; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007519:Isoantigens; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D054353:Perforin