8 CD 54 contributes to natural killer cells cytotoxicity

Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cells exhibit their cytotoxicity through adhesion to the target cells via adhesion molecules. We investigated the effect of the adhesion molecules on NK cell cytotoxicity. Cytotoxicity assay revealed that cells of the NK cell line NK 92 MI kill the cells of the melanoma cell line WM 35. Fluorescence-activated cell scanning (FACS) analysis confirmed the expression of CD 11 a/CD 18 (LFA-1) by NK 92 MI cells and CD 54 by WM 35 cells. Next, we investigated whether the cytotoxicity was dependent on the adhesion molecule CD 54. The anti-CD 54 neutralizing antibody significantly suppressed the killing of WM 35 cells by NK 92 MI cells. These results suggest that the killing of WM 35 cells by NK 92 MI cells might be CD 54-dependent.