Generation of monoclonal antibodies blocking cytotoxic reactions by human NK clones: further characterization of a 40/80-kDa target cell receptor.

To study NK target antigen(s), mice were immunized with pooled cells from five human hematopoietic cell lines (K562, MOLT4, JM, CEM, U937) known to be susceptible to Natural Killer activity. Cells fusions were performed and 4 out of approximately 2000 hybridoma supernatants were selected because of their ability to block cytotoxic reactions between a human NK clone (termed JT9) and MOLT4 cells. Functional characterization of the four monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) indicated that individual treatment of each immunizing target cells resulted in a decreased cytotoxicity. This inhibition was very specific because it was exclusively observed when three clones, JT9, JT10, and JT11, which express the same clonotypic structure (NKTa), were used as effector cells. Parallel and sequential immunoprecipitations showed that the four reagents termed anti-TNKtar 1, 2, 3, and 4 were directed at the same 40/80-kDa heterodimeric structure previously identified by anti-TNKtar Mab. However, cross-blocking experiments indicated that TNKtar and TNKtar 1-4 represent two distinct epitopic clusters. Finally, it was shown that anti-TNKtar 1-4 recognition sites are either identical or closely related to that of an additional antibody termed 4F2. Together, the present data strengthen the hypothesis that the activation antigen recognized by these series of Mab serves as a target cell receptor for at least a minor population of NK active lymphocytes.