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
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity
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Antigens, CD / biosynthesis*
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Antigens, CD / genetics
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Cell Line
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Clone Cells / immunology
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Clone Cells / metabolism
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Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic / methods
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Humans
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Jurkat Cells
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Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
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Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism*
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Lectins, C-Type*
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Membrane Glycoproteins / biosynthesis*
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Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
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NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C
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NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D
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NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K
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Protein Isoforms / biosynthesis
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Protein Isoforms / genetics
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RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
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Receptors, Immunologic / biosynthesis*
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Receptors, Immunologic / genetics
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Receptors, Natural Killer Cell
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Transcription, Genetic / immunology
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Tumor Cells, Cultured
Substances
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Antigens, CD
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KLRC1 protein, human
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KLRC2 protein, human
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KLRC3 protein, human
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KLRD1 protein, human
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KLRK1 protein, human
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Lectins, C-Type
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Membrane Glycoproteins
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NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C
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NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D
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NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K
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Protein Isoforms
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RNA, Messenger
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Receptors, Immunologic
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Receptors, Natural Killer Cell