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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Artificial Antigen Presenting Cell (aAPC) Mediated Activation and Expansion of Natural Killer T Cells
Published on: December 29, 2012
Expression of T-cell associated antigens by porcine natural killer cells
M D Pescovitz1, M A Lowman, D H Sachs
1Transplantation Biology Section, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.
We have examined the cell surface phenotype of porcine natural killer (NK) cells and compared them with classic porcine cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). NK cells were susceptible to treatment with monoclonal antibodies to CD2 (PT11), CD8 (PT8) and Ia plus complement (C), as well as with antiserum to asialo-GM1 (ASGM1) plus C. In addition, monoclonal antibodies to leucocyte function antigen 1 (LFA-1) but not to CD8 blocked NK-mediated lysis in the absence of C. This is in contrast to porcine CTL, which were eliminated by antibodies to CD2, CD8 and Ia plus C, but not by anti-ASGMI plus C, and which were blocked by anti-CD8 in the absence of C. Therefore, although porcine NK cells are similar to porcine CTL, they are distinguished by several important differences.
We have examined the cell surface phenotype of porcine natural killer (NK) cells and compared them with classic porcine cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). NK cells were susceptible to treatment with monoclonal antibodies to CD2 (PT11), CD8 (PT8) and Ia plus complement (C), as well as with antiserum to asialo-GM1 (ASGM1) plus C. In addition, monoclonal antibodies to leucocyte function antigen 1 (LFA-1) but not to CD8 blocked NK-mediated lysis in the absence of C. This is in contrast to porcine CTL, which were eliminated by antibodies to CD2, CD8 and Ia plus C, but not by anti-ASGMI plus C, and which were blocked by anti-CD8 in the absence of C. Therefore, although porcine NK cells are similar to porcine CTL, they are distinguished by several important differences.
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