Effector cell sensitivity to sugar moieties. II. Inhibition by monosaccharides of interferon enhanced human natural killing.

Little is known at present about the nature of the natural killer (NK) cell-tumor target cell interaction. Human NK cells recognize multiple target antigens. The ligands (antigens) involved in this interaction have not been identified. Previously, we have shown that some monosaccharides inhibit NK cytolysis in a dose-dependent fashion and that NK cell activity involves recognition of carbohydrate structures on target cells via receptors on the effector cell surface. Using human interferon, we have found that monosaccharides inhibit interferon enhanced NK functional activity in a dose-dependent fashion. In addition, we demonstrate that glycosidase treatment of effector cells results in complete inhibition of NK activity.