Differential expression of inhibitory and activating CD94/NKG2 receptors on NK cell clones

J Immunol Methods. 2002 Jun 1;264(1-2):109-19. doi: 10.1016/s0022-1759(02)00084-4.

Abstract

Natural killer cells are known to express a variety of surface receptors involved in HLA class I monitoring. It is thus of interest to investigate the clonal distribution and relative expression levels of activating versus inhibitory NK receptors. We have developed a quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay designed to determine specific and absolute mRNA levels for NKG2-A/B, -C, -E, -F, -H and NKG2-D. When analyzing NK cell clones derived from a single donor we found differential expression of inhibitory (NKG2-A/B) versus triggering (NKG2-C and potentially -E, -F, -H) NK receptor chains. The generation of the splice variants NKG2-E and -H seemed to occur at a constant ratio. We further compared NKG2 transcript levels to surface receptor expression as monitored by flow cytometric analysis and to NK cell cytotoxicity as detected by reverse ADCC: a clear correlation was observed. Thus, the data obtained reveal a substantial variability in the NKG2 repertoire among NK cell subpopulations, which is likely to affect the sensitivity and reactivity towards the ligand HLA-E.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity
  • Antigens, CD / biosynthesis*
  • Antigens, CD / genetics
  • Cell Line
  • Clone Cells / immunology
  • Clone Cells / metabolism
  • Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic / methods
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism*
  • Lectins, C-Type*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / biosynthesis*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K
  • Protein Isoforms / biosynthesis
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, Immunologic / biosynthesis*
  • Receptors, Immunologic / genetics
  • Receptors, Natural Killer Cell
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transcription, Genetic / immunology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • KLRC1 protein, human
  • KLRC2 protein, human
  • KLRC3 protein, human
  • KLRD1 protein, human
  • KLRK1 protein, human
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K
  • Protein Isoforms
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • Receptors, Natural Killer Cell