title: Cattle MIC is a ligand for the activating NK cell receptor NKG2D.
abstract: Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain-related (MIC) genes encode molecules that are expressed in response to stress, signalling immune system cells primarily via the activating receptor NKG2D. We investigated the expression of receptors for MIC in lymphocyte subsets found in peripheral blood, lymph node and gut in cattle and demonstrated their presence on natural killer (NK) cells, gammadelta T cells and CD8(+) T cells. Recognition of MIC by NKG2D was formally demonstrated using recombinant protein and an ELISA. Staining with a cross-reactive monoclonal antibody recognising both human and cattle MIC showed that MIC is constitutively expressed within cattle intestinal epithelium. A functional response to soluble MIC was observed in receptor-bearing cells in blood, lymph node and gut, the latter requiring relatively high levels of MIC to trigger a response. Results suggest that NKG2D is a functionally important activating receptor in cattle.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Animal Health, Division of Immunology, Compton, Newbury RG20 7NN, United Kingdom. efrain.guzman@bbsrc.ac.uk
authors.forename: Efrain
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guzman
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Birch
authors.forename: Shirley A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ellis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000662:veterinary; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007422:Intestines / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008024:Ligands; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K / Q000276:immunology*; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets
chemical_list: D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D008024:Ligands; C099187:MHC class I-related chain A; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K; D012313:RNA