title: Homophilic interaction of NTBA, a member of the CD2 molecular family: induction of cytotoxicity and cytokine release in human NK cells.
abstract: NK-T-B antigen (NTBA) is a CD2 family member that functions as a coreceptor in human NK cell activation. Several receptor/ligand interactions occur between different members of this molecular family. In this study, in order to identify the natural ligand of NTBA, we produced a chimeric protein formed by the NTBA extracellular region fused with the Fc portion of human IgG1 (termed NTBA-Fc*). NTBA-Fc* specifically binds to NTBA cell transfectants but not to cells transfected with other CD2 family members including CD2, CD48, CD84, CD150, CD229, and CD244. Moreover, NTBA-Fc* also binds to NTBA(+) but not to NTBA(-) T cell lines. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, plasmon resonance analysis, as well as NTBA-Fc*-mediated down-regulation of NTBA surface expression further confirmed the occurrence of NTBA/NTBA homophilic interaction. Functionally, in NK cells, NTBA-Fc* promoted a strong production of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. Moreover, NTBA-transfected targets displayed increased susceptibility to NK-mediated killing as compared to untransfected cells and this effect was specifically inhibited by anti-NTBA mAb. Altogether our data indicate that NTBA is characterized by self recognition.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falco
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marcenaro
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bellora
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marras
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vély
authors.forename: Géraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferracci
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moretta
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moretta
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bottino
mesh_terms: D018801:CD2 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018801:CD2 Antigens; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma