Effector cell sensitivity to sugar moieties. I. Inhibition of human natural killer cell activity by monosaccharides.

Human natural killer (NK) cells recognize multiple target antigens. The ligands (antigens) involved in the effector-target cell interaction have not been extensively identified. In the present study, assays of NK activity in the presence of a panel of monosaccharides demonstrated inhibition of cytolysis in a dose-response fashion. We propose that NK cell activity involves the recognition of carbohydrate structures on target cells via receptors on the effector cell surface.