title: Expression of ligands to NKp46 in benign and malignant melanocytes.
abstract: Human melanoma cell lines were shown to express ligands for the natural cytotoxicity receptor, NKp46, expressed by natural killer (NK) cells. We aimed to examine the expression of ligands for NKp46 by various primary human melanocytic cells and melanocytic lesions. Sections from primary nevi and melanomas were tested for expression of NKp46 ligands employing chimeric NKp46-Fc for staining. The melanocytes present in the reticular dermis were negative for NKp46 ligands in common nevi; in malignant melanocytic lesions, the deeper melanocytes were focally positive. In dermoepidermal junction of all melanocytic lesions, the melanocytes showed enhanced expression of NKp46 ligands. Melanophages in all lesions were consistently positive for NKp46 ligands. These observations establish the expression of NKp46 ligands by primary-transformed melanocytes. Normal melanocytes did not express ligands to NKp46. Therefore, the results show (i) a correlation between the malignant potential of the lesion and the expression of NKp46 ligands in the reticular dermis, and (ii) enhanced expression of NKp46 ligands in the active proliferation zone (dermoepidermal junction) of nevi and melanomas. Ligands to NKp46 were expressed on the membrane and within the cells. The physiological role of NKp46 ligands in the progression of malignancy within melanocytic lesions should be explored further.
authors.affiliation: Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cagnano
authors.forename: Oren
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hershkovitz
authors.forename: Alon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zilka
authors.forename: Ahuva
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bar-Ilan
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Golder
authors.forename: Netta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sion-Vardy
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bogdanov-Berezovsky
authors.forename: Ofer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mandelboim
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Benharroch
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Porgador
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D020405:Dermis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008024:Ligands; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1; D009506:Nevus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; C112260:NCR1 protein, human; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic