Immunoultrastructural studies of human NK cells: II. Effector-target cell binding and phagocytosis

Progress of research in cell-in-cell phenomena

The discovery of a nonphagocytotic process of cell-in-cell phenomena can be traced to over a century ago. However, its biological significance remains poorly understood. Three types of cell-in-cell phenomena have been described so far, termed "cannibalism," "emperipolesis," and "entosis." These three kinds of cell-in-cell phenomena, apart from a common feature of one cell internal to another, are distinct both cytologically and biologically. In this review, we discussed them in their morphology, cell recognition, penetration mechanisms, and physiological roles, respectively.

Human gamma delta T cells: a lymphoid lineage cell capable of professional phagocytosis

Professional phagocytosis in mammals is considered to be performed exclusively by myeloid cell types. In this study, we demonstrate, for the first time, that a mammalian lymphocyte subset can operate as a professional phagocyte. By using confocal microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and functional Ag presentation assays, we find that freshly isolated human peripheral blood gammadelta T cells can phagocytose Escherichia coli and 1 microm synthetic beads via Ab opsonization and CD16 (FcgammaRIII), leading to Ag processing and presentation on MHC class II. In contrast, other CD16(+) lymphocytes, i.e., CD16(+)/CD56(+) NK cells, were not capable of such functions. These findings of distinct myeloid characteristics in gammadelta T cells strongly support the suggestion that gammadelta T cells are evolutionarily ancient lymphocytes and have implications for our understanding of their role in transitional immunity and the control of infectious diseases and cancer.

Interface accumulation of receptor/ligand couples in lymphocyte activation: methods, mechanisms, and significance

Cellular interaction is vital to the activation of most lymphocytes. At the interface between the lymphocyte and the cell that activates it, multiple receptor/ligand pairs accumulate in distinct patterns. This accumulation is intriguing, as it is likely to shape the quality of receptor signaling and thereby lymphocyte behavior. Here we address such receptor/ligand accumulation with an emphasis on T and natural killer (NK) cells. First, we discuss the strengths and limitations of commonly used approaches to visualize receptor/ligand accumulation. Second, we discuss two principal mechanisms of receptor and ligand translocation, diffusion and cytoskeletal transport, as understanding these mechanisms can be invaluable in the determination of the significance of receptor/ligand accumulation. We show that the extent of receptor/ligand accumulation at the T cell/antigen presenting cell interface is dominated by diffusion for all but the lowest affinity interactions, while patterning of these receptors/ligands within the interface is strongly influenced by cytoskeletal transport. Third, we discuss two specific issues in lymphocyte receptor/ligand accumulation. We review the abundant but frequently controversial data on T cell receptor (TCR)/major histocompatibility complex (MHC) accumulation and suggest that central TCR/MHC accumulation is a mediator of efficient T cell activation. In the investigation of NK cell/target cell interactions, we characterize the often tentative NK cell/target cell couple maintenance, as it creates a major obstacle in studying receptor/ligand accumulation.

New data on the cytolytic effects of natural killer cells (Kurloff cells) on a leukemic cell line (guinea pig L2C)

L2C leukemia is a leukemia that occurs in strain two guinea pigs. The L2C cells are natural killer-sensitive. The Kurloff cell (KC), a guinea pig NK cell, develops a 3-fold increase in lysosomal enzyme activity and the number of KC cells increases during leukemogenesis, leading to KC cell-mediated L2C cytolysis. This paper shows that conjugates are produced by incubating KC and L2C for 4 h, with 34% of L2C showing chromatin compaction and shrinkage of the cytoplasm. There was also a reorientation of the KC cytoplasmic organelles to face the target cell and an elongation of the KC to produce arms that engulfed the L2C. The L2C had either necrotic or apoptotic characteristics. L2C DNA fragmentation was demonstrated in situ with the comet and the TUNEL assays. 22.2% of the viable L2C lost their membrane asymmetry during KC-L2C conjugation as shown by incubation with Annexin V-FITC. These results provide new evidence that the death of L2C is due, at least partly, to apoptosis. The cytolytic effect of the NKKC might be a model of the cytological changes that occur in NK cell-leukemic cell conjugates.

Occurrence and a possible mechanism of penetration of natural killer cells into K562 target cells during the cytotoxic interaction

The cytotoxic interaction between cloned human Natural Killer (NK) cells and K562 target cells was studied using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and conventional fluorescence microscopy. We observed, using fixed as well as living cells, the occurrence of (pseudo) emperipolesis during the interaction. About 30% of conjugated NK cells penetrated, partly or completely, into the target cells (in-conjugation). Virtually all in-conjugated target cells exhibited polymerized actin. Killer cells of in-conjugates were frequently seen approaching the target cell nucleus or aligning along it. If the cytotoxic process was inhibited by the absence of calcium neither actin polymerization nor in-conjugation were observed. A kinetic study showed that in-conjugation starts somewhat later than actin polymerization but still within a few minutes after addition of calcium to conjugates previously formed in the absence of calcium. The presence of cytochalasin D (an inhibitor of actin polymerization) completely inhibited in-conjugation and partly reduced the cytotoxic activity. Zinc ions (endonuclease inhibition) inhibited in-conjugation and decreased the total number of target cells with polymerized actin in a concentration dependent manner. Cytotoxic activity was also reduced but not as efficiently as in-conjugation. Our study demonstrates that in-conjugation represents a significant fraction of the cytotoxic interaction. The results indicate that it may be a consequence of an actin polymerization and endonuclease activity dependent part of a cytotoxic mechanism.

Spontaneous cytotoxic earthworm leukocytes kill K562 tumor cells

Earthworm coelomocytes may act as effector cells which destroy targets in vitro. In a 51Cr release assay, Lumbricus coelomocyte effectors showed lytic activities of 3-14% against K562 human tumor cells when incubated 1-4 hr at 23 degrees C or 37 degrees C. Cytotoxicity was correlated with effector: target ratio. However, targets were not killed by incubating them in cell-free, 0.2 micron filtered coelomic fluid. The supernatant from coelomocytes cultured alone failed to kill K562 targets but coelomocyte lysates were toxic to target cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Coelomocytes were examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). When effectors and targets were examined under TEM, we found close apposition of effector granulocytic coelomocytes and target cell membranes but not with coelomocytes nor eleocytes at up to 15 min incubation. By SEM, effector cells appeared not only to be in close contact with targets, but instances of target lysis were observed. These results suggest that effector cell/target cell contact is essential for cytotoxicity to occur.

Ultrastructure of nonspecific cytotoxic cells in teleosts. I. Effector-target cell binding in a marine and a freshwater species (seabream: Sparus aurata L., and carp: Cyprinus carpio L.)

BACKGROUND

Fish cytotoxic effectors form a cell population whose ultrastructure and properties of conjugation with target cells have not been completely established. We report the ultrastructure of the nonspecific cytotoxic cells in a seawater teleost (Sparus aurata L.) and compare it to a freshwater species (Cyprinus carpio L.).

METHODS

Blood leucocytes were incubated with HeLa or B16 melanoma cells. Samples were processed for transmission electron microscopic study.

RESULTS

Conjugates consisting of leucocytes binding targets were regularly observed after 30 min, 1 hr, or 2 hr of incubation. In both species leucocytes binding to targets showed ultrastructural features of either monocyte-like or lymphocyte-like cells. Monocyte-like cells usually appeared flattened against the targets and seemed to enclose fragments of the target to form cytoplasmic vesicles and the content of their scarce cytoplasmic granules seemed to be delivered into these vesicles. In the seabream lymphocyte-like cells, dense cytoplasmic granules occurred only occasionally, and neither microvilli nor cell processes were present at the contact areas with the targets. In the carp, the contacts were more numerous and formed regularly interdigitating contact areas and the lymphocytes showed granules with characteristic dense and fibrillar contents.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that seabream and carp have a leucocyte cell population with ultrastructural features of either monocytes or lymphocytes showing nonspecific cytotoxic ability.

Kinetic analysis of cytotoxic lymphocyte-target cell interaction as quantified by dual parameter flow cytometry

The kinetics of conjugate formation between leukemic cell lines (K562 and Daudi) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells was studied. A flow cytofluorometry method using double immunofluorescence staining was applied. During the first 15 min of incubation of LAK effectors with leukemic targets, a rapid binding occurred, followed by a plateau phase lasting until 30 min of observation. A considerable, yet not statistically significant, between-donor variability was noticed. A mathematical model of conjugate formation kinetics, based on the analogy to enzyme kinetics, was formulated and validated. Parameters of the model were related to the binding capacity of effector and target cells, and to the lifetime of conjugates and free cells. The concordance of theoretical curves with experimental data proved that the described model can be considered as a useful tool for the evaluation of kinetic and dynamic characterization of conjugate formation between leukemic targets and LAK effectors.

Cell-to-cell mediated inhibition of natural killer cell proliferation by monocytes and its regulation by histamine H2-receptors

Human peripheral blood monocytes, recovered by counter-current centrifugal elutriation, suppressed interleukin-2 (IL-2)-induced proliferation of autologous lymphocytes, recovered from low density Percoll fractions. Cell sorting experiments, analysis of phenotype of proliferating cells, and removal of defined cellular subsets by complement cytotoxicity revealed that IL-2-induced proliferation was confined to CD3-/16+/56+ natural killer (NK) cells. Monocyte-induced suppression of NK-cell proliferation was completed within 1 h of incubation with monocytes and unrelated to the formation of prostaglandins or other intermediary factors. The biogenic amine histamine, acting via H2-type histamine receptors (H2R) on monocytes, completely counteracted the monocyte-mediated suppression of IL-2-induced NK-cell proliferation. Our data are suggestive of a H2R-regulated, cell-cell-mediated mechanism by which monocytes down-modulate NK-cell proliferation.

Morphometric evaluation of CD16-positive cells with respect to CD2 antigen coexpression

We examined morphometric as well as functional characteristics of CD16-positive human peripheral blood lymphocytes on the basis of the coexpression of the CD2 antigen. For morphometric analyses, nuclear area and cellular area were determined by counting line cross-points of a superimposed quadratic lattice test system overlying nuclei and the whole cell, respectively. Moreover, to evaluate the cellular villousity degree, the maximum inscrible circle and an irregular polygon were inscribed within cell profiles. The cytoplasm fraction included between the plasmalemma and the traced irregular polygon was considered as the villous portion of the cell. Finally, the NK capability was measured in a 6-hr 51Cr-release assay with human K-562 myeloid cells as targets. Within the CD16-positive cell population, the CD16-positive/CD2-negative cells seem to represent the most efficient NK cell subset. To the higher NK capability correspond a higher villousity degree and a lower nuclear area/cellular area ratio of the CD2-negative/CD16-positive subset, when compared with CD2-positive/CD16-positive cells.

A cell-to-cell mediated interaction involving monocytes and non-T/CD16+ natural killer (NK) cells is required for histamine H2-receptor-mediated NK-cell activation

Histamine (10(-4) to 10(-7) M) augmented natural killer cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) of human CD16+, non-T lymphocytes in vitro against the NK-sensitive target cells K562 erythroleukaemic, Molt-4 lymphoma, Chang liver cells and against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed, NK-insensitive Daudi B-lymphoblastoid target cells by a mechanism of action involving a prostaglandin- and interleukin 1 (IL-1)-independent accessory function of monocytes. No evidence for the production of intermediary, NK-enhancing cytokines by histamine was obtained, indicating a cell-to-cell mediated interaction between monocytes and NK cells as a plausible mechanism of action for the NK-augmenting effect. Monocytes recovered by countercurrent centrifugal elutriation (CCE), but not monocytes recovered by adherence, reconstituted the effect of histamine when added to non-adherent NK cells. The development of NKCC in response to histamine was time-dependent with (i) an induction phase, dependent on the presence of accessory monocytes and ongoing histamine H2-receptor activation (half-maximal response required approximately 30 min treatment of large granular lymphocyte (LGL)-enriched lymphocytes and monocytes with histamine), and (ii) an effector phase, independent of the presence of monocytes or histamine receptor activation. Histamine-activated mononuclear cells (MNC) continued to exert augmented cytotoxicity for at least 8 h after removal of histamine and monocytes. In several experiments, histamine-activated NK-effector cells killed greater than 90% of the target cells at low baseline NKCC. We suggest that histamine may have a role in non-specific tumour defence by regulating an earlier unrecognized interplay between monocytes and NK cells.

Enhancement of human natural killer cell cytotoxicity by serotonin: role of non-T/CD16+ NK cells, accessory monocytes, and 5-HT1A receptors

Serotonin (10(-4) - 10(-7) M) augmented natural killer cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) of human CD16+/non-T lymphocytes in vitro against the NK-sensitive target cells K 562 erythroleukemic, Molt-4 lymphoma, Chang liver cells, and against EBV-transformed Daudi B-lymphoblastoid target cells by a mechanism of action involving a prostaglandin-and IL-1-independent accessory function of monocytes. No evidence for the production of intermediary, NK-enhancing cytokines by serotonin was obtained, suggesting a cell-to-cell-mediated interaction between monocytes and NK cells as a plausible mechanism of action for the NK-augmenting effect. Monocytes recovered by counter-current centrifugal elutriation but not monocytes recovered by adherence reconstituted the effect of serotonin when added to nonadherent NK cells. NK-enhancing effects of serotonin were mimicked by two 5-HT1A-type serotonin receptor agonists, 8-OH-DPAT and (+)-ALK. The development of NKCC in response to serotonin could be resolved into (i) an induction phase, dependent on the presence of accessory monocytes and serotonin, and (ii) an effector phase, independent of the presence of monocytes or serotonin. Serotonin-activated MNC continued to exert augmented cytotoxicity for at least 8 hr after the removal of serotonin and monocytes. In several experiments, serotonin-activated NK cells killed greater than 75% of K 562 target cells even at low effector to target cell ratios and low baseline NKCC. We suggest that serotonin may have a role in nonspecific tumor defence by regulating an earlier unrecognized interplay between monocytes and NK cells.

Biology of natural killer cells

Studies of cytotoxicity by human lymphocytes revealed not only that both allogeneic and syngeneic tumor cells were lysed in a non-MHC-restricted fashion, but also that lymphocytes from normal donors were often cytotoxic. Lymphocytes from any healthy donor, as well as peripheral blood and spleen lymphocytes from several experimental animals, in the absence of known or deliberate sensitization, were found to be spontaneously cytotoxic in vitro for some normal fresh cells, most cultured cell lines, immature hematopoietic cells, and tumor cells. This type of nonadaptive, non-MHC-restricted cellmediated cytotoxicity was defined as “natural” cytotoxicity, and the effector cells mediating natural cytotoxicity were functionally defined as natural killer (NK) cells. The existence of NK cells has prompted a reinterpretation of both the studies of specific cytotoxicity against spontaneous human tumors and the theory of immune surveillance, at least in its most restrictive interpretation. Unlike cytotoxic T cells, NK cells cannot be demonstrated to have clonally distributed specificity, restriction for MHC products at the target cell surface, or immunological memory. NK cells cannot yet be formally assigned to a single lineage based on the definitive identification of a stem cell, a distinct anatomical location of maturation, or unique genotypic rearrangements.

Histologic, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopic study of infectious process in mouse lung after intranasal challenge with Coxiella burnetii

A histologic, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopic study of the intracellular parasitism of Coxiella burnetii (the Q fever agent) in mouse lungs after intranasal challenge was undertaken. It was shown that this microorganism invades type I and, rarely, type II pneumocytes as well as pulmonary fibroblasts and histiocytes. The infectious process can be described as a focal intra-alveolar inflammation with the macrophages prevailing in the exudate. It is self-limited, with a complete resolution. The inflammation is associated with atelectases and with increased secretory activity by type II pneumocytes. Alveolar macrophages and granulocytes degrade C. burnetii. This degradation is followed by damage to and eventual disintegration of some macrophages and by damage to some bacterium-free pneumocytes and vascular endothelial cells in the vicinity of macrophages degrading organisms. The cell damage might be caused by lipopolysaccharide released from degraded organisms. The infectious process is also associated with the influx of T cells in the pneumonic foci, T-cell attachment to the macrophages degrading organisms, and fusion of some macrophages. These are considered a morphologic expression of cell-mediated immunity involved in the infectious process.

Cytochemical localization of arylsulfatase in guinea-pig Kurloff cells

Kurloff cells are mononuclear cells characterized by a large metachromatic and PAS-positive inclusion called the Kurloff body. Bone-marrow and spleen Kurloff cells were incubated with p-nitrocatechol sulfate as substrate and barium chloride as capturing agent for the ultracytochemical detection of the lysosomal marker enzyme, arylsulfatase. Enzymatic reaction product was consistently found as a single spot-like deposit confined to the rim of the Kurloff body. These results, and the previously described presence of other acid hydrolases and sulfated glycosamino++glycans, emphasize the similarities between the Kurloff body and lysosomes. Reaction product could also be found occasionally in segments of the rough endoplasmic reticulum but it was absent from the Golgi apparatus. This arylsulfatase activity could be related to the natural killer activity of Kurloff cells.

Immunoultrastructural studies of human NK cells: I. Ultracytochemistry and comparison with T cell subsets

Human NK activity is known to be associated with a population of large granular lymphocytes (LGL) exhibiting several immunophenotypic surface markers including Leu-11a (NKP-15), Leu-7 (HNK-1), Leu-3a (T4), and Leu-2a (T8). Based upon correlation with cytolytic activity, Leu-11a is now considered the most specific antigenic marker for human NK cells. Present investigation compared the ultrastructure of cells expressing Leu-11a, Leu-7, Leu-3a, and Leu-2a, both in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and the purified LGL fraction. Subcellular cytochemical reactions were investigated in Leu-7+ or Leu-11a+ PBL or LGL and in cells conjugated with K562 targets (indicating NK cytolytic potential). The surface markers, localized with monoclonal antibodies, were detected by immunoelectron microscopy by using direct or indirect avidin-biotin-peroxidase (ABC) or colloidal gold methods. A peroxidase-colloidal gold double-labeling system was used to identify subsets of Leu-7+ or Leu-11a+ cells. Previously described ultrastructural features of LGL including a villous surface, reniform nuclei, low nuclear/cytoplasm ratios, and abundant cytoplasm with vesicles, vacuoles, electron-dense granules, parallel tubular arrays (PTA), or paracrystalline inclusions were associated with Leu-7+, Leu-11a+, Leu-7+/Leu-11a+, Leu-7+/Leu-11a-, and Leu-7-/Leu-11a+ PBL or LGL. Results showed that the Leu-7+/Leu-11a+ cells were the most abundant NK cells in PBL. Lymphocyte subsets with Leu-3a or Leu-2a surface marker showed some ultrastructural features including PTA similar to Leu-7+ cells and Leu-11a+ cells, and their subsets. These T-cells appeared ultrastructurally more similar to the Leu-7+/Leu-11a- subset. Cytochemical studies showed that electron-dense cytoplasmic granules and PTA typical of the Leu-11a+ cells and Leu-7+ cells contained glycoprotein, acid phosphatase, and arylsulfatase. Large cytoplasmic vacuoles were heterogeneous and typically contained electron-dense material with DAB reactivity, membranous material, PTA, and/or paracrystalline inclusions. Glycoprotein, acid phosphatase, and arylsulfatase, and peroxidase reactive material were also found in these vacuoles. These features suggested that the vacuoles could be secondary lysosomes. The coexistence of intact PTA or degenerating PTA in the same vacuoles with paracrystalline inclusions suggested that the latter are possibly derived from PTA.