KHYG-1, a model for the study of enhanced natural killer cell cytotoxicity.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the cytotoxicity of KHYG-1 with other natural killer (NK)/NK T-cell lines and identify molecules that may be associated with enhanced cytotoxicity, thereby eventually leading to improved NK cell-mediated cancer immunotherapy.


METHODS
NK/NK T-cell lines KHYG-1, NK-92, YT, and SNT-8 were compared with a novel flow cytometric cytotoxicity assay under different culture conditions. Transcription, expression, and phosphorylation studies were performed using polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primers, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, and flow cytometry.


RESULTS
KHYG-1 is a highly cytotoxic cell line, exceeding the cytolytic capacity of the other cell lines against K562. KHYG-1 is also highly cytotoxic against the leukemia cell lines EM2, EM3, and HL60. The novel activation receptor NKp44 and its adaptor, DAP12, NKG2D, and constitutively phosphorylated ERK2 may be associated with the enhanced cytotoxicity of KHYG-1. This cell line most likely mediates cytolysis by granzyme M (but not granzymes A and B) together with perforin, which is constitutively fully cleaved to the 60-kD form, in contrast to the other cell lines.


CONCLUSIONS
KHYG-1 is a valuable model for the study of enhanced cytotoxicity by NK cells. In addition to the activation of NKp44, KHYG-1 may induce apoptosis of tumor cells by the newly described granzyme M/perforin pathway. Targeted modifications of effector molecules demonstrated in this model could generate NK cells with even greater killing ability that may be particularly attractive for clinical application. Moreover, our demonstration of greater cytotoxicity of KHYG-1 versus NK-92 cells, already in clinical trials, suggests a direct therapeutic role for KHYG-1.
Suck
Garnet
G
Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Hospital/Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. garnet.suck@uhn.on.ca
Branch
Donald R
DR
Smyth
Mark J
MJ
Miller
Richard G
RG
Vergidis
Joanna
J
Fahim
Soad
S
Keating
Armand
A
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology*; D053804:Granzymes; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation; D007938:Leukemia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018448:Models, Immunological; D055629:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 2; D054353:Perforin; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000276:immunology
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C112837:NCR2 protein, human; D055629:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 2; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; C110546:TYROBP protein, human; D054353:Perforin; C509213:GZMB protein, human; C509218:GZMM protein, human; D053804:Granzymes; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases