The murine NK2.1 antigen: a 130 kD glycoprotein dimer expressed by a natural killer cell subset of the spleen, thymus and lymph nodes

The Ly-49 family: genes, proteins and recognition of class I MHC

The Ly-49 family consists of at least nine members, of which Ly-49A and C have been found to be NK-cell inhibitory receptors specific for class I MHC. The functions of other Ly-49 molecules are still unclear. Further analysis of Ly-49 is complicated by the cross-reactivities of some anti-Ly-49 antibodies initially thought to be specific for individual Ly-49 molecules. Studies on the role of Ly-49 in hybrid resistance as well as on allelic exclusion are also complicated by our recent finding that a novel Ly-49CB6 gene is the likely allelic form of Ly-49CBALB as opposed to a previously reported highly related but distinct gene in B6 mice. In cell-cell binding assays, only Ly-49A and C show significant binding to class I MHC. Ly-49A and C also bind some polysaccharides, and carbohydrates on class I MHC seem to be important for its binding to Ly-49. However, this interaction involves not only the carbohydrate recognition domain of Ly-49 but also a part of the stalk region, suggesting that both carbohydrates and peptide backbone of class I MHC may be recognized by Ly-49. It is likely that additional Ly-49 molecules yet to be identified function as NK-inhibitory receptors specific for class I MHC.

Heterogeneity among Ly-49C natural killer (NK) cells: characterization of highly related receptors with differing functions and expression patterns

Ly-49C is a member of the polymorphic family of murine NK cell inhibitory receptors. The 5E6 antibody that defines a subset of NK cells responsible for the rejection of parental H-2d bone marrow by F1 mice has been shown previously to react with Ly-49C. Here, the 5E6 antibody was found to detect two Ly-49C-related molecules in B6 mice. Two cDNA clones were isolated from B6 NK cells, one identical to previously reported Ly-49CB6 and the other a novel cDNA. The deduced amino acid sequence of the latter differs from that of Ly-49CBALB at only 4 residues, whereas the previously reported Ly-49CB6 differs at 22 residues. Flow cytometric analyses of COS cells transfected with the two cDNAs showed that the 5E6 antibody binds to both Ly-49 molecules, while another anti-Ly-49C antibody, 4LO3311, binds to the newly described Ly-49C but not the previously reported Ly-49CB6. Two-color flow cytometric analysis detected 5E6+4LO3311- as well as 5E6+4LO3311+ subsets of NK cells from B6, but not BALB/c, mice. The level of Ly-49C expression on B6 NK cells detected by the 4LO3311 antibody was substantially lower than that on BALB/c NK cells. Binding specificity of the novel Ly-49CB6 was indistinguishable from that of Ly-49CBALB, whereas no binding was detectable with previously reported Ly-49CB6. These results demonstrate that the newly described Ly-49CB6, not the previously reported Ly-49CB6, is the probable B6 allelic form of Ly-49C. The previously reported Ly-49CB6 must be encoded by a separate gene and should be renamed Ly-49I. The implication of these results with respect to the role of Ly-49C in hybrid resistance is discussed.

NK cell proliferation and inflammation

Considerable progress has been made in recent years in understanding the biology of NK cells. NK cells are no longer 'null cells', but express an array of functionally important molecules with which they mediate and regulate their cytolytic activity and the cytokines they secrete. Activation and proliferation of NK cells in influenced by cytokines produced by activated monocytes (IL-15, IL-12, IL-10) and activated T cells (IL-2). This paper reviews the phenotype and effector functions of NK cells, their tissue distribution, and evidence that NK cells proliferate in vivo as part of productive or pathologic consequences of immunity.

Ly-49-independent natural killer (NK) cell specificity revealed by NK cell clones derived from p53-deficient mice

Natural killer (NK) cells are heterogeneous in their specificity and expression of cell surface molecules. In the mouse, the Ly-49A molecule is a primary determinant of NK cell specificity because of its ability to downregulate NK cell activation after physical interaction with target cell MHC class I molecules. Ly-49A is expressed on an NK cell subset, and it belongs to a family of highly related molecules that may similarly dictate major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-associated specificity of Ly-49A- NK cells. It is not known, however, whether murine NK cell specificity may occur independently of the Ly-49 family and target cell MHC class I molecules. Similar to the impact of cloned murine T cell lines on molecular description of T cell recognition, derivation of cloned murine NK cells should permit dissection of NK cell specificity but, to date, it has not been possible to produce such effector cells. In this study, we derived NK cell clones from mice that were homozygous for a mutation in the p53 tumor suppressor gene. The cloned cells displayed the molecular, cell surface, and functional phenotype of NK cells. Significantly, the NK cell clones displayed clonal differences in ability to kill a panel of murine tumor targets and did not lyse normal cells. Target lysis was unaffected by target cell MHC class I expression, and none of the clones expressed Ly-49A on the cell surface or transcripts for Ly-49 isoforms. Although consistent with the possibility that NK cell specificity for MHC class I molecules is mediated by the Ly-49 family of molecules, the results indicate that NK cell specificity also is regulated by a mechanism independent of target cell MHC class I and the Ly-49 family.

Natural killer cell receptors

In the past year, significant strides have been made in understanding natural killing, the process whereby natural killer cells lyse target cells. Recognition of susceptible targets and activation now appear to be mediated by a natural killer cell receptor that binds carbohydrate determinants on target cells and initiates target lysis. Conversely, receptors have been identified that bind MHC class I molecules on targets that inhibit natural killer cell activation. These findings provide the basis for understanding the molecular processes in the initial steps of natural killing.