Target-cell sensitivity to natural killer-cell lysis is determined by the expression of a novel antigen in conjunction with major histocompatibility complex class-I molecules.

Recently, a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) was developed that identified a novel tumour-cell antigen conserved across species (mouse, rat and man). Fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis demonstrated that this antigen was expressed at highest levels on human tumour cell lines sensitive to natural killer (NK)-cell lysis. These MoAbs inhibited NK cell lysis of K562 target cells (by up to 90%), as well as a variety of other NK-sensitive target cells. Biochemical analyses revealed that the MoAbs reacted with a polypeptide of 42 kDaltons, distinct from other known cell surface antigens. Now the expression of this antigen has been analysed further with a panel of 24 tumour cell lines to determine its role in NK cell function. The expression of target cell major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules in conjunction with sensitivity to NK cell lysis was examined also. For each of the 24 cell lines it was found that the level of expression of the novel target cell antigen determined the sensitivity of the cell line to NK cell lysis. However, the level of MHC antigen expression could modulate target cell sensitivity to NK cell lysis, in that high levels of MHC class-I molecule expression resulted in a target cell that was insensitive to NK cell lysis regardless of the level of expression of the novel antigen. Thus, for most transformed cell lines, sensitivity to NK cell lysis appeared to be determined by the expression and levels of the novel antigen in association with MHC class-I molecules.