title: Chondrocyte-specific phenotype confers susceptibility of rat chondrocytes to lysis by NK cells.
abstract: Normal chondrocytes are targets for natural killer (NK) cells. Since the mechanism of this phenomenon remains unknown, the present study was aimed at testing whether it is associated with chondrocyte-specific phenotype defined as ability of cartilage cells to produce sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAG) and express collagen II and aggrecan mRNA. Lysis of rat epiphyseal chondrocytes by syngeneic spleen mononuclear cells (SMCs) was evaluated by (51)Cr-release assay. Loss of chondrocyte phenotype following long-term culture resulted in their decreased susceptibility to lysis. Similar effect was also observed after suppression of chondrocyte phenotype by TNF. On the other hand, stimulation of cartilage-specific matrix component synthesis by IGF-1 resulted in increased chondrocyte killing and exogenous chondroitin sulfate A stimulated NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity against chondrocytes and human K562 cells. This suggests that chondrocyte susceptibility to lysis by NK cells depends on chondrocyte-specific phenotype, especially sulfated GAG production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Center of Biostructure Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Białoszewska
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niderla-Bielińska
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hyc
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Osiecka-Iwan
authors.forename: Dorota M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Radomska-Leśniewska
authors.forename: Claudine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kieda
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malejczyk
mesh_terms: D053674:Aggrecans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D020014:K562 Cells; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D053674:Aggrecans; D024043:Collagen Type II; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates