Intercellular transfer and supramolecular organization of human leukocyte antigen C at inhibitory natural killer cell immune synapses.

Journal article

After accumulation of target cell human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-C at inhibitory natural killer (NK) cell immune synapses, some HLA-C transfers from target cells to NK cell plasma membranes and cytoplasm. This unexpected intercellular transfer of HLA-C is dependent on NK receptor recognition, since HLA-Cw6 or -Cw4 but not -Cw3 transfer to an NK transfectant expressing killer Ig-like receptor (KIR)2DL1. Strikingly, live-cell time-lapse laser scanning confocal microscopy shows vesicles containing target cell green fluorescent protein-tagged HLA-C migrating away from immune synapses into NK cells. Unlike clustering of HLA-C at the immune synapse, intercellular transfer of HLA-C is dependent on NK cell ATP, but not target cell ATP. However, the intercellular transfer of HLA-C is not dependent on active polymerization of the actin cytoskeleton. In addition, different arrangements of HLA-C are seen at inhibitory NK immune synapses, and these alter as NK synapses mature, but in a fashion distinct from that seen upon T cell activation.

Authors: Carlin, L; Eleme, K; McCann, F; Davis, D

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Journal of experimental medicine
• Volume: 194
• Issue: 10
• Pages: 1507-1517
• Publication date: 2001-11-01
• DOI: 10.1084/jem.194.10.1507
• EISSN: 1540-9538
• ISSN: 0022-1007
• Language: English
• Keywords: Cytoskeleton; HLA-C Antigens; Receptors, Immunologic; Cell Line; Humans; Synapses; Receptors, KIR2DL1; Adenosine Triphosphate; Biological Transport; Killer Cells, Natural