title: Constitutive expression of ligand for natural killer cell NKp44 receptor (NKp44L) by normal human articular chondrocytes.
abstract: Normal chondrocytes display susceptibility to lysis by natural killer (NK) cells and this phenomenon may play a role in some inflammatory cartilage disorders. The mechanisms of chondrocyte recognition and killing by NK cells remain unclear. Using flow cytometry and immunohistochemical staining we found that normal human articular chondrocytes constitutively express a ligand for NKp44, one of stimulatory NK cell receptors involved in recognition and killing of target cells. Expression of NKp44 ligand by normal articular chondrocytes is not involved in their killing by unstimulated NK cells; however, it is responsible for anti-chondrocyte cytotoxicity mediated by long-term activated NK cells. Thus, expression of NKp44 ligand may play a role in chondrocyte destruction in course of chronic inflammatory cartilage disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Center of Biostructure Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland; Glycobiology of Cell Recognition, Centre de Biophysique Moleculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, University of Orleans, Orleans, France.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Białoszewska
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baychelier
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niderla-Bielińska
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Czop
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Debré
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vieillard
authors.forename: Claudine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kieda
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malejczyk
mesh_terms: D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D003025:Clubfoot; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D055629:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C112837:NCR2 protein, human; D055629:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 2
keywords: Articular chondrocytes; Cartilage; NK cells; NKp44 ligand; NKp44 receptor