title: The non-classical HLA class I molecule HFE does not influence the NK-like activity contained in fresh human PBMCs and does not interact with NK cells.
abstract: In humans, four beta2-microglobulin-associated non-classical class I molecules are encoded in the MHC: HLA-E, -F, -G and -H. Three of them (HLA-E, -F and -G) were shown to inhibit NK activity. On the contrary, the fourth one, HLA-H, named HFE after it was found to be mutated in patients suffering from inherited hemochromatosis, has been shown to be involved only in the regulation of iron uptake. We tested the capacity of HFE to affect (enhance or reduce) specifically the NK activity contained in non-manipulated fresh human PBMCs. We showed that HFE expression by target cells does not affect their killing by the NK-like activity contained in PBMCs. Moreover, using fluorescent HFE tetramers, we could confirm that blood NK cells as well as blood gammadelta T cells do not bind HFE. Altogether, our data indicate that HFE does not affect the NK activity contained in the PBMCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. steve.pascolo@uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pascolo
authors.forename: Florent
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ginhoux
authors.forename: Nihay
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Laham
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schoor
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Probst
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rohrlich
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Obermayr
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fisch
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Danos
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ehrlich
authors.forename: Francois A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Lemonnier
authors.forename: Hans-Georg
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Rammensee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D000071020:Hemochromatosis Protein; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; C068126:CD71 antigen; C103673:HFE protein, human; D000071020:Hemochromatosis Protein; C499535:Hfe protein, mouse; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin