Multiple natural killer cell-activating signals are inhibited by major histocompatibility complex class I expression in target cells

Several lines of evidence indicate that major histocompatibility complex class I molecules expressed by target cells can prevent natural killer cell (NK) lysis, possibly by engaging inhibitory receptors expressed by NK cells. On the other hand it is likely that NK cells must be activated to lysis by the recognition of unidentified NK target structures on target cells. To investigate the relationship between positive activation of NK cells by NK target structures versus inhibition by target cell class I molecules, we have examined various NK/target cell interactions for which the expression of inhibitory class I molecules by the target cells is known. The results suggest that specific properties of the target cell other than the absence of class I expression are necessary to activate NK-mediated lysis. Furthermore, different effector cell populations, i.e. freshly isolated versus interleukin-2 activated NK cells, differ in their capacity to kill class I-deficient lymphoblast target cells. In general, class I-deficient target cells that are resistant to direct lysis by a given NK population can be lysed by the NK cells when the reaction is mediated by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Most significantly, all types of NK-mediated lysis of lymphoblasts, of tumor cells and of almost any target by ADCC can be inhibited by appropriate class I gene expression in the target cell. These results suggest a model in which lysis by NK cells must be triggered by any one of a set of distinct target cell ligands, but that all of these signals can be overruled by class I-mediated inhibition.     

Location-specific regulation of transgenic Ly49A receptors by major histocompatibility complex class I molecules

Inhibitory receptors expressed on natural killer (NK) cells and T cells specific for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I are believed to prevent these cells from responding to normal self tissues. To understand the regulation and function of Ly49 receptor molecules in vivo, we used the CD2 promoter to target Ly49A expression to all thymocytes, T cells, and NK cells. In animals expressing its MHC class I ligand, H-2D^d or H-2D^k, there was a large decrease in the expression of Ly49A on thymocytes, peripheral T cells, and NK1.1⁺ cells. The extent of the down-regulation of Ly49A was dependent on the expression of the MHC ligand for Ly49A and on the site where the cells were located. The level of expression of endogenous Ly49A was similarly found to be dependent upon the organ where the cells resided. Data from bone marrow chimeras indicated that most cell types may regulate Ly49A expression, but the efficacy to regulate receptor expression may vary depending on the cell type.     

The CD94 and NKG2-A C-type lectins covalently assemble to form a natural killer cell inhibitory receptor for HLA class I molecules

CD94, a type II membrane protein containing a C-type lectin domain, has been shown to be involved in natural killer (NK) cell-mediated recognition of different HLA allotypes. The inhibitory form of the CD94 receptor has recently been identified by the specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) Z199. Herein, we demonstrate that the inhibitory receptor is in fact a complex formed by the covalent association of CD94 with the NKG2-A molecule (Mr ～ 43 kDa), another member of the C-type lectin superfamily, and that Z199 mAb specifically recognize NKG2-A molecules. Although the NKG2-A-encoding cDNA has been known for several years, the corresponding protein and its possible function remained undefined. Moreover, we show that the NKG2-B protein, an alternatively spliced product of the NKG2-A gene, can also assemble with CD94. Remarkably, both NKG2-A and NKG2-B proteins contain cytoplasmic immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIM). This may provide the molecular basis of the inhibitory function mediated by the CD94/NKG2-A receptor complexes.     

Inhibition of natural killer cell-mediated bone marrow graft rejection by allogeneic major histocompatibility complex class I,but not class II molecules

The role of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and class II molecules in natural killer (NK) cell-mediated rejection of allogeneic, semi-syngeneic and MHC-matched bone marrow grafts was investigated. The use of β₂-microglobulin (β₂m) -/- and β₂m +/- mice as bone marrow donors to MHC-mismatched recipients allowed an analysis of whether the presence of semi-syngeneic and allogeneic MHC class I gene products would be triggering, protective or neutral, in relation to NK cell-mediated rejection. Loss of β₂m did not allow H-2^b bone marrow cells to escape from NK cell-mediated rejection in allogeneic (BALB/c) or semi-allogeneic (H-2D^d transgenic C57BL/6) mice. On the contrary, it led to stronger rejection, as reflected by the inability of a larger bone marrow cell inoculum to overcome rejection by the H-2-mismatched recipients. In H-2-matched recipients, loss of β₂m in the graft led to a switch from engraftment to rejection. At the recipient level, loss of β₂m led to loss of the capability to reject H-2-matched β₂m-deficient as well as allogeneic grafts. When MHC class II-deficient mice were used as donors, the response was the same as that against donors of normal MHC phenotype: allogeneic and semi-syngeneic grafts were rejected by NK cells, while syngeneic grafts were accepted. These data suggest a model in which allogeneic class I molecules on the target cell offer partial protection, while certain syngeneic class I molecules give full protection from NK cell-mediated rejection of bone marrow cells. There was no evidence for a role of MHC class II molecules in this system.     

Major histocompatibility complex genes determine natural killer cell tolerance

Murine natural killer (NK) cell subsets, as defined by expression of members of the Ly49 gene family, discriminate target cells expressing different major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I alleles. For example, Ly49A⁺ NK cells lyse H-2^b but not H-2^d tumor target cells. The specificity arises because D^d on target cells binds to Ly49A, transducing an inhibitory signal into the Ly49A⁺ NK cells. The capacity of NK cells to discriminate allelic class I determinants raises a key issue: are NK cells self-tolerant, and if so what are the mechanisms that lead to self-tolerance? As previously reported, potentially autoaggressive Ly49A⁺ NK cells are not clonally deleted in H-2^b mice. However, IL-2- cultured Ly49A⁺ effector cells from H-2^b mice exhibit reduced lysis of H-2^b (self) concanavalin A blast target cells, compared to Ly49A⁺ effector cells from H-2^d mice. Possible mechanisms accounting for this self-tolerance are addressed in this report. Self-tolerance was not due to anergy of the cells, because the Ly49A⁺ effector cells from both types of mice lysed β2-microglobulin-deficient target cells efficiently and equivalently. These results also suggest that tolerance results from inhibition mediated by β2m-dependent H-2^b class I molecules. Significantly, blockade of Ly49A on Ly49A⁺ effector cells from H-2^b mice did not restore lysis of H-2^b target cells, suggesting that inhibition is not mediated through the Ly49A receptor. Additional experiments suggest that inhibition is also not mediated primarily through the Ly49C receptor. These results suggest that Ly49A⁺ effector cells from H-2^b mice, unlike those from H-2^d mice, express inhibitory receptors specific for H-2^b molecules that are distinct from Ly49A and Ly49C.     

The ability of H-2Dd molecule to affect natural resistance to hemopoietic allografts is an intrinsic property shared by Ddm1 but not Ld

F₁ hybrid resistance (HR) to parental bone marrow grafts is mediated by natural killer (NK) cells, and thought to be controlled by the non-class I hemopoietic histocompatibility (Hh) genes linked to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). However, as in the in vitro NK cytotoxicity against hemopoietic targets, expression of certain class I MHC molecules does affect HR, although mechanisms underlying such an effect are not understood. In this study, we examine the relevance of the “self/non-self” property of class I molecules and the molecular domains responsible for this function. H-2^b/Hh-1^b lymphoma cells were transfected with class 1 H-2D^d or L^d gene, and its effect on the Hh-1 phenotype was examined by testing the transfectant's ability to competitively inhibit the in vivo rejection of parental H-2^b/Hh-1^b bone marrow grafts by irradiated F₁ hybrid hosts. Multiple independent clones of transfectants show that the genomic or cDNA of the D^d gene, but not of L^d, renders the Hh-1^b-positive cells incapable of inhibiting HR in F₁ mice, although both genes belong to the same region of the same haplotype. The same effect could be observed not only in H-2^b/d F₁ mice for which D^d and L^d are self, but also in H-2^b/k F₁ mice for which both D^d and L^d are non-self. Thus, this function of the D^d molecule is an intrinsic property, not necessarily related to its self/non-self characteristic relative to the effector cells. Furthermore, given the nature of the assay used in this study, the results favor a “target interference” model as the underlying mechanism of the D^d effect. To locate the relevant domain(s) of the D^d molecule, mutant D^dm1 gene was tested and found to have the same effect as the non-mutant D^d. D^dm1 is a hybrid molecule between D^d and L^d, sharing with D^d only the α1 domain and a portion of the α2 domain. The two N-terminal domains of D^dm1 differ from those of D^d by three amino acid substitutions, two of which affect the molecules' peptide-binding properties.     

Cloning of a mouse homolog of CD94 extends the family of C-type lectins on murine natural killer cells

Two families of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-specific receptors are found on natural killer (NK) cells: immunoglobulin-like receptors and C-type lectin receptors. In mice, the latter category is represented by the Ly49 family of receptors, whereas in humans, NK cells express the distantly related CD94, which forms MHC class I-specific heterodimers with NKG2 family members. Humans also express the MHC class I-specific p50/p58/p70 family of immunoglobulin-like receptors, but these have not been identified in mice. Hence, there is no known instance of an MHC class I-specific receptor that is expressed by both human and murine NK cells. Here we report the cloning of CD94 from the CB.17 and C57BL/6 strains of mice. Mouse CD94 is 54 % identical and 66 % similar to human CD94, and is also a member of the C-type lectin superfamily. Mouse CD94 is expressed efficiently on the cell surface of cells transiently transfected with the corresponding cDNA, but surface CD94 was unable to mediate detectable binding to MHC class I-expressing ConA blasts. Notably, mouse CD94, like human CD94, has a very short cytoplasmic tail, suggesting the existence of partner chains that may play a role in ligand binding and signaling. Like many other C-type lectins expressed by NK cells, mouse CD94 maps to the NK complex on distal chromosome 6, synteneic to human CD94. We also demonstrate that mouse CD94 is highly expressed specifically by mouse NK cells, raising the possibility that mice, like humans, express multiple families of MHC class I-specific receptors on their NK cells. Murine homologs of human NKG2 family members have not yet been identified, but we report here the existence of a murine NKG2D-like sequence that also maps to the murine NK complex near CD94 and Ly49 family members.     

Negative regulation of rat natural killer cell activity by major histocompatibility complex class I recognition

The cytolytic activity of human and mouse natural killer (NK) cells is negatively regulated by self major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules on potential target cells. In the rat, protection by RT1 class I gene products has so far not been formally shown although the complex effects of foreign and self RT1 genes on polyclonal NK cell activity suggest that MHC recognition can have both stimulatory and inhibitory effects. Here we report that the expression of self-MHC class I molecules on target cells strongly inhibits lysis by a long term NK cell line derived from LEW (RT1^l) rats and by LEW NK cells activated by short-term culture in the presence of interleukin-2. This was demonstrated with mouse-rat hybridoma target cells expressing different rat MHC alleles and with mouse tumor target cells transfected with classical (RT1.A^l) and nonclassical (RT1.C^l) rat MHC class I genes. With hybridoma target cells, the strongest reduction in lysis as compared to the parental mouse myeloma line was observed when “self” (LEW) MHC was expressed, while hybridomas expressing other MHC alleles showed less and variable reduction. Transfection of RT1.A^l protected both L-929 fibroblasts and P815 mastocytoma cells from lysis by the NK cell line, while RT1.C^l only protected P815 cells, indicating that additional target cell properties regulate rat NK cell activity.     

Rat interleukin-2-activated natural killer (A-NK) cell-mediated lysis is determined by the presence of CD18 on A-NK cells and the absence of major histocompatibility complex class I on target cells

The precise mechanism by which target cells are recognized and subsequently lysed by interleukin-2-activated natural killer (A-NK) cells is poorly understood. In this study the role of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and adhesion molecules in the recognition and lysis of tumor cells was investigated in a syngeneic Wag rat model. Preincubation of tumor cells with F(ab′)₂ fragments of anti-MHC class I monoclonal antibody (mAb) OX18 strongly enhanced the A-NK cell-mediated lysis. Also normal syngeneic cells such as T cells and A-NK cells became highly sensitive for lysis by A-NK cells after preincubation with mAb OX18. Two other mAb against MHC class I had no effect on lysis of target cells. These data indicate that masking of MHC class I on syngeneic tumor and normal cells by mAb OX18 is sufficient for A-NK cells to recognize target cells as non-self, resulting in lysis. In addition, we found that the presence of mAb against the β2 (CD18)-integrins blocked the lysis of all tumor cell lines by A-NK cells in ⁵¹Cr-release assays, also when target cells were preincubated with mAb OX18. Because of the absence of CD18 on most tumor cells we concluded that a CD18-associated integrin on A-NK cells is essential for lysis of target cells. These results show that in this syngeneic rat model CD18 on A-NK cells together with MHC class I on tumor cells determine A-NK cell-mediated lysis. Furthermore, we hypothesize that the anti-MHC class I OX18 recognizes an epitope on rat MHC class I which is, or is very close to, the restriction element determining A-NK cell-mediated lysis.     

Self class I molecules protect normal cells from lysis mediated by autologous natural killer cells

The surface expression of given HLA class I alleles protects target cells from lysis mediated by natural killer (NK) clones specific for these (or related) alleles. We could define two groups of NK clones specifically recognizing either Cw4 and related C alleles (“group 1”) or Cw3 and related C alleles (“group 2”), respectively. Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to class I molecules should interfere with the interaction between NK receptors and class I molecules, thus resulting in lysis of protected target cells. However, none of the numerous available mAb to class I molecules had this effect. Therefore, we attempted to select new mAb on the basis of their ability to induce lysis of Cw4- or Cw3-protected lymphoblastoid cell lines by “group 1” or “group 2” NK clones, respectively. From mice immunized with phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-activated lymphocytes expressing either Cw3 or Cw4 alleles, two mAb were selected, the 6A4 (IgG1) and the A6-136 (IgM), on the basis of their ability to induce lysis of protected target cell. Both mAb immunoprecipitated molecules which, in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, gave two bands of 45 and 12 kDa, typical of the class I heavy chain and β2 microglobulin, respectively. It has been proposed (but not proven), that self major histocompatibility complex class I molecules protect normal cells from autologous NK cell lysis. Thus, we used the 6A4 and A6-136 mAb to assess this possibility directly. Cw4-specific (“group 1”) and Cw3-specific (“group 2”) NK clones were isolated from donors expressing the corresponding (or related) protective C alleles. None of these clones lysed autologous PHA-induced blasts, used as target cells. However, addition of the F(ab′)₂ of 6A4 mAb or the A6-136 mAb resulted in lysis of autologous target cells by “group 1” or “group 2” NK clones, respectively. These data provide direct evidence that the expression of class I molecules protects normal cells from lysis by autologous NK cells.     

Ly-49-independent inhibition of natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity by a soluble major histocompatibility complex class I molecule

Natural killer (NK) cells lyse their targets in a non-major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted manner, and the cytotoxicity can be inhibited by a number of MHC class I allele products, suggesting that NK cells may have a “positive receptor” that recognizes the target and a “negative receptort” that receives an inhibitory signal from class I. Since negative receptors could also exert their effect by masking a positive ligand, we have determined whether there may be a direct interaction between class I and an NK surface receptor by measuring cytotoxicity in the presence of a soluble class I molecule, K^d. Soluble K^d at micromolar concentrations could efficiently block NK cell cytotoxicity, suggesting that class I has a direct effect on cytotoxicity, rather than masking another target cell ligand. Inhibition required that K^d be at least divalent, probably because of its higher affinity or its ability to cross-link the NK surface receptor. In addition, the effect was independent of the peptide used to load K^d, and there was inhibition of cytotoxicity of NK cells derived from either H-2^d or H-2^b mice. Finally, depletion of NK cells expressing Ly-49 had no effect on the specific inhibition by K^d, raising the possibility that NK cells are endowed with additional negative receptors besides Ly-49. Taken together, these results suggest that there may be a family of NK receptors recognizing different class I alleles, which can receive negative signals by directly binding to class I on the target cell surface.     

青海高原藏族胃癌患者自然杀伤细胞活化性受体D及其配体MICA表达的研究

目的： 研究高原藏族胃癌患者外周血NK细胞表面活化性受体D(NKG2D)的表达及局部肿瘤组织和癌旁正常组织中相应配体MICA 的表达,探讨宿主NKG2D 在抗胃癌中的作用及其与肿瘤免疫逃逸的关系。方法: 对33例高原藏族胃癌患者及20 例健康人,采用流式细胞术检测外周血NKG2D 的表达状况,RT-PCR 和免疫组织化学技术检测在局部肿瘤组织和癌旁正常组织标本中MICA 的表达。结果: 高原藏族胃癌患者外周血NKG2D 的表达为(13.47 ±5.26)%，明显低于正常组（32.62±10.08)%，2组之间差异显著(P<0．05); 藏族胃癌组织MICA mRNA的表达水平显著高于癌旁正常组织（P<0.05）。胃癌组织MICA蛋白表达在癌旁正常组织中为(21.21%,7/33),胃癌组织阳性率为(78.79%，26/33),高分化组(60.00%,3/5),中分化组(72.73%,8/11),低分化组(88.24%,15/17),组间差异显著(P<0.05),而与肿瘤的大小、性别、年龄、淋巴结转移无关（P>0.05）。 Spearman相关分析显示，MICA表达水平与mRNA的表达水平显著正相关（r=0.903,P<0.01）。结论: 高原藏族胃癌的免疫逃逸可能与NKG2D 表达下调及其配体MICA 的表达升高有关，高原藏族胃癌患者外周血NK细胞活性降低,其NKG2D 表达的下降是NK细胞活性下降的原因之一。NKG2D配体MICA 的基因表达可能与高原胃癌患者的恶性转化有一定的相关性。     

Expression of the Ly49A gene in murine natural killer cell clones is predominantly but not exclusively mono-allelic

The Ly49 family of natural killer (NK) cell receptors are major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-specific inhibitory receptors that are distributed to overlapping NK cell subsets. Extending earlier studies of polyclonal NK cell populations, we have employed an analysis of short-term NK cell clones from Ly49A heterozygous mice, to demonstrate that the Ly49A gene is usually expressed from one or the other allele in each Ly49A⁺ cell. However, we also detected a small percentage of clones that expressed both Ly49A alleles. The possibility that the colonies exhibiting bi-allelic Ly49A gene expression had been inoculated with more than one cell was ruled out by parallel analysis of clones isolated from mixtures of NK cells from Ly49A homozygous mice. The frequency of bi-allelic Ly49A⁺ clones suggested that the two Ly49A alleles in an NK cell are chosen for expression independently. These data are consistent with the proposal that mono-allelic Ly49A gene expression may arise as a consequence of a stochastic Ly49 gene activation mechanism. Analysis of Ly49A⁺ clones from MHC-different mice demonstrated that class I-deficient mice harbored a greater number of bi-allelic Ly49A⁺ cells than did H-2^d mice, which express a Ly49A ligand. Although the numbers were insufficiently large for a clear assignment, H-2^b mice may harbor an intermediate number of bi-allelic Ly49A⁺ NK cells. The effects of MHC expression on the prevalence of bi-allelic Ly49A⁺ cells suggest that an MHC-dependent education process modifies the Ly49 repertoire.     

Fine tuning of natural killer cell specificity and maintenance of self tolerance in MHC class I-deficient mice

TAP1 −/−, β2-microglobulin (β2m) −/− and TAP1/β2m −/− mice all express low but quantitatively different levels of MHC class I molecules. Using these mice, we have addressed questions relating to the fine tuning of natural killer (NK) cell specificity and maintenance of self tolerance in the NK cell system. NK cells from B6 wild-type mice killed target cells from TAP1 −/−, β2m −/− and TAP1/β2m −/− mice in vivo and rejected bone marrow grafts from the same mice in vivo at equivalent levels. NK cells from TAP1 −/−, β2m −/− mice did not kill target cells or reject bone marrow grafts from TAP1/β2m −/− mice. NK cells in all MHC class I-deficient mice were tolerant to autologous MHC class I-deficient cells, as revealed by in vitro cytotoxicity assays using NK cell effectors activated with the interferon-inducing agent Tilorone, or by in vivo bone marrow graft experiments. However, the self-tolerant state of MHC class I-deficient NK cells was broken by in vitro stimulation with IL-2 for 4 days. Under these conditions, NK cells from the MHC class I-deficient mice killed autologous MHC class I-deficient cells while MHC class I-positive targets were spared. The C-type lectin inhibitory receptor Ly49C has a specificity for H-2K^b and is expressed on a subset of NK1.1⁺ cells in B6 mice. Wild-type and all MHC class I-deficient mice had similar numbers of Ly49C-positive NK1.1⁺ cells. However, Ly49C expression was markedly down-regulated on NK1.1⁺ cells from B6 mice, as compared to TAP1 −/−, β2m −/− and TAP1/β2m −/− mice. In vitro stimulation of NK cells with IL-2 for 4 days did not significantly change this pattern. The present results are discussed in relation to the role of MHC class I molecules and Ly49 receptors in shaping the NK cell repertoire and raise new questions about maintenance of self tolerance in the NK cell system.     

Role of amino acid position 70 in the binding affinity of p50.1 and p58.1 receptors for HLA-Cw4 molecules

In an attempt to identify the amino acid position(s) of the HLA-C-specific p58.1/p50.1 natural killer cell receptors that determine the binding affinity for their ligand, we used soluble fusion proteins formed by the ectodomain of either receptor and the Fc portion of human IgG1. We show that the soluble p50.1 (activating) receptor binds weakly to 221-Cw4 transfectants. In contrast, the soluble p58.1 (inhibitory) receptor binds with high affinity. A single amino acid mutation at position 70, obtained by site-directed mutagenesis, was found to affect the binding affinity of both the p50.1 and the p58.1 receptors. Thus, sub-stitution in p50.1 of lysine 70 by threonine (typical of the inhibitory p58.1 molecule) resulted in a dramatic increase in binding affinity, comparable to that of the p58.1 molecule. On the other hand, substitution of threonine 70 by lysine in p58.1 almost abolished binding to 221-Cw4 cells. Our present data indicate that a single amino acid difference greatly influences the p58.1/p50.1 affinity for their HLA-C ligand and suggests a possible role of position 70 as a contact site in the natural killer cell receptor/major histocompatibility complex class I interaction.     

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored H-2Db molecules are defective in antigen processing and presentation to cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored (GPI)-D^b molecules are defective in mediating cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) lysis of transfected lymphoma cells, compared to their transmembrane (TM) counterpart. This defect is manifest when antigenic peptide must be processed and presented through the endogenous pathway. These same transfectants can be lysed by allospecific CTL, or by antigen-specific D^b-restricted CTL when pulsed with appropriate exogenous synthetic peptide, demonstrating that they can bind and present peptide for CTL-mediated lympholysis. The defect apparently results from differences between GPI-D^b and TM-D^b assembly and transport, or from differences in membrane topology that affect CD8⁺ CTL recognition of major histocompatibility complex/peptide complex.     

Cross-reactivity among evolutionarily distant major histocompatibility complex class I molecules (HLA-B27 and H-2Kk) revealed by xenoreactive T lymphocytes

A set of mouse HLA-B27-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones were found to recognize the HLA-B27 molecule in an H-2-unrestricted manner, i.e. independently of any mouse major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule. The reactivity patterns of these clones on HLA-B27 variants (positive only on HLA-B*2702 and HLA-B*2701) allowed the identification of residues N77 and A81 of the HLA-B27 molecule as important for their reactivity. The location of these residues in the peptide-binding groove (specificity pocket F) suggested that the reactivity of the clones is dependent on HLA-B27-bound peptide(s). However, several other class I molecules sharing these residues (N77 and A81) were not recognized, indicating that other residues might also be involved. One of the clones was found to display an interesting cross-reactivity with allogeneic H-2K^k molecules, sharing N77 and A81 with HLA-B*2702. Sequence comparison suggested the involvement of residue H9, located in specificity pocket B of the peptide-binding groove, and revealed some similarity of pockets B in HLA-B27 and H-2K^k. The structural basis of such T cell-mediated MHC cross-reactions across species barriers is discussed.     

MUC1 peptide epitopes associated with five different H-2 class I molecules

We have previously described the induction of murine CD8⁺ major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-restricted cytotoxic T cells (CTL) recognizing the 20-amino acid repeat region of the human mucin 1 (MUC1) variable number of tandem repeats region (VNTR), a mucin greatly increased in expression in breast cancer and proposed as a target for immunotherapy. In that study, CTL could detect MUC1 peptides associated with the MHC of all nine strains examined, and we now report the different epitopes presented by five different MHC class I molecules. The epitopes were defined in CTL assays using peptide-pulsed phytohemagglutinin blasts or MHC class I-transfected L cells as targets; in addition, peptide binding assays and T cell proliferation studies were performed. Within the 20-amino acid VNTR, nine potential epitopes could be defined. The epitopes for the four MHC class I molecules [K^b (three epitopes), D^d, L^d and K^k] were closely related, all containing the amino acids PDTRPAP. For D^b, three epitopes were identified, all containing APGSTAP. Most of the epitopes did not contain a consensus motif for the particular MHC class I allele, and bound with low ‘affinity’, compared with known high-affinity peptides. CD8⁺ T cell proliferation also occurred to the same MHC class I-presented epitopes. Finally, when conventional anchor residues were introduced into the peptides, peptide binding increased, whereas CTL recognition was either retained (K^b) or lost (D^b) depending on the epitope.     

Reduced expression of major histocompatibility complex class I free heavy chains and enhanced sensitivity to natural killer cells after incubation of human lymphoid lines with β2-microglobulin

Enhancement of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I expression leads to protection from recognition by natural killer (NK) cells in several systems. MHC class I gene products can be expressed in different forms at the cell surface - for example as “empty” β₂-microglobulin (β₂m)-associated heterodimers or free heavy chains. To study the role of different class I heavy chain forms in NK target interactions, we have used lymphoblastoid target cell lines preincubated with β₂m. This was found to shift the equilibrium between β₂m-associated and nonassociated - heavy chains in favor of the former. In parallel, there was a significant increase in NK sensitivity. The recognition of MHC class I-deficient cell lines was not affected by β₂m, arguing against a general nonspecific effect of fern on NK sensitivity. Our data indicate that protection against NK recognition correlates with target cell expression of free heavy chains (i.e. devoid of β₂m) rather than with expression of complexes.