NK cell-associated antigen expression in retinoblastoma animal model

Eun Kyoung Lee1, Dong Hyun Jo, Jin Hyoung Kim

  • 1Fight Against Angiogenesis-Related Blindness (FARB) Laboratory, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Cancer Investigation
|November 20, 2012
PubMed

Natural killer (NK) cells are critical components of our immune system. Herein, we for the first time analyzed the expression and localization of the activating receptor NK cell lectin-like receptor gene 2D (NKG2D) ligands, HLA-G, MICA, MICA/B, and ULBP-2 in orthotopic transplantation models of retinoblastoma. Interestingly, HLA-G and MICA/B were expressed in retinoblastoma cell, whereas MICA and ULBP-2 were not detected. Moreover, HLA-G and MICA/B were primarily detected in proliferative area of the tumor periphery with high Ki-67 immunostaining. Our results suggest that NKG2D ligands are differentially expressed in retinoblastoma, which would play a crucial role in immunomodulation in retinoblastoma.