title: Cutting edge: identification of E-cadherin as a ligand for the murine killer cell lectin-like receptor G1.
abstract: The killer cell lectin-like receptor G1 (KLRG1) is expressed by NK cells and by T cells. In both humans and mice, KLRG1 identifies Ag-experienced T cells that are impaired in their proliferative capacity but are capable of performing effector functions. In this study, we identified E-cadherin as a ligand for murine KLRG1 by using fluorescently labeled, soluble tetrameric complexes of the extracellular domain of the murine KLRG1 molecule as staining reagents in expression cloning. Ectopic expression of E-cadherin in B16.BL6 target cells did not affect cell-mediated lysis by lymphokine-activated NK cells and by CD8 T cells but inhibited Ag-induced proliferation and induction of cytolytic activity of CD8 T cells. E-cadherin is expressed by normal epithelial cells, Langerhans cells, and keratinocytes and is usually down-regulated on metastatic cancer cells. KLRG1 ligation by E-cadherin in healthy tissue may thus exert an inhibitory effect on primed T cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gründemann
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schweier
authors.forename: Nanette
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: von Oppen
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lässing
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saudan
authors.forename: Karl-Friedrich
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karp
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hanke
authors.forename: Martin F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Bachmann
authors.forename: Hanspeter
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pircher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008024:Ligands; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D015820:Cadherins; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; C451496:Klrg1 protein, mouse; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008024:Ligands; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic