The development and characterization of a natural killer cell-resistant human renal cell carcinoma cell line

M S Ernstoff1, E M Jaffee, T Oeler

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pa.

Natural Immunity
|January 1, 1992
PubMed

Insights

Researchers identified surface molecules involved in natural killer (NK) cell recognition of tumor cells. Developing resistant cell lines helps uncover targets for NK cell-based cancer therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial for recognizing and eliminating transformed cells.
  • Identifying specific NK cell surface recognition molecules on tumor targets is essential for understanding NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity.
  • Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a significant malignancy where NK cell activity can play a role in immune surveillance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop an approach for identifying NK cell surface recognition molecules on human tumor targets.
  • To investigate the differences in surface molecule expression between NK-sensitive and NK-resistant renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines.
  • To explore the role of identified antigens in NK-mediated lysis of tumor cells.

Main Methods:

  • Generation of an NK-resistant RCC cell line (5117GBT) from an NK-sensitive line (5117GB) by exposure to peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
  • Comparative analysis of cell surface marker expression (laminin, CD2, CD54, CD58, HLA-ABC) on both sensitive and resistant cell lines using flow cytometry.
  • Utilizing murine monoclonal antibodies to identify and characterize novel antigens preferentially binding to either sensitive or resistant RCC cells.

Main Results:

  • Both 5117GB and 5117GBT cell lines were sensitive to lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells.
  • While both lines expressed laminin, CD2, CD54, and CD58, the resistant 5117GBT line lost detectable HLA-ABC expression compared to the sensitive 5117GB line.
  • Six murine monoclonal antibodies were identified that differentially bind to sensitive or resistant RCC cells, suggesting potential roles in NK recognition.

Conclusions:

  • The development of NK-sensitive and NK-resistant tumor cell lines provides a valuable model for dissecting NK cell recognition mechanisms.
  • Differential expression of surface molecules, particularly HLA-ABC, may influence NK cell-mediated lysis of RCC.
  • Further investigation of antigens recognized by the identified monoclonal antibodies is warranted to elucidate their role in NK cell binding and tumor cell lysis.