Inhibition of frog SK effector-target cell binding.

Substances known to inhibit mammalian NK cell activity during the first stage of lysis (i.e., effector cell-target cell binding) will also inhibit frog SK cell activity. We analyzed target cell lysis after conjugate formation between one target cell and at least one effector cell. Using frog SK effector cells and frog allogeneic and mammalian tumor target cells, we demonstrated that EDTA, the Ca+2 and Mg+2 chelating agent, but not EGTA, the Ca+2 chelating agent, inhibited binding. Thus, Mg+2 is required for conjugate formation. The inhibitory effects of EDTA were at least partially reversible following removal of EDTA. Binding also required membrane fluidity since pretreatment of targets with glutaraldehyde prevented effector cell binding. Adding glutaraldehyde after conjugate formation increased lysis. Modification of target cell surface proteins by DMSO and trypsin also inhibited binding of effector and target cells. Substances inhibiting binding decreased lysis as measured by 51Cr-release from target cells. Inhibition of binding between SK effector and target cells adds further support to our view that natural or spontaneous killing of foreign cells may be one of the most primitive immuno-defense mechanisms.