The JI
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     
 

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Carpen, O.
Right arrow Articles by Saksela, E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Carpen, O.
Right arrow Articles by Saksela, E.

The Journal of Immunology, Vol 128, Issue 6 2691-2697, Copyright © 1982 by American Association of Immunologists

ARTICLES

Ultrastructure of human natural killer cells: nature of the cytolytic contacts in relation to cellular secretion

O Carpen, I Virtanen and E Saksela

The ultrastructure of human NK cells, NK/target cell conjugates, and the effect of monensin, a secretion inhibitor, were studied. Human peripheral blood lymphocytes, highly enriched (75 to 85%) in large granular lymphocytes (LGL), which are known to be the mediators of human NK activity, were used as effectors, and K562 cells as targets. LGL-type of cells were characterized in electron microscopy by a low nucleocytoplasmic ratio, indented nucleus, several large mitochondria, prominent Golgi apparatus, and cytoplasmic osmiophilic granules bound by a unit membrane. Their surface was of intermediate villous type. Two types of effector/target contacts were seen: either effector cell protrusions were pushed deep into pouches and lacunae of the target cell surface, or a wide area of intimate cell-to-cell contact was formed. The contact formation was followed by polarization of the effector cell Golgi apparatus towards the contact area. Monensin, a carboxylic ionophore, which interrupts the vesicular traffic of Golgi- derived vacuoles to the cell surface, caused an accumulation of cytoplasmic vesicles in the LGL but had no effect on the effector/target contact formation. Monensin inhibited the NK lysis apparently via cessation of secretion by the LGL. It did not affect the viability of the effector cells. The lytic steps of human NK cells thus involve binding to the target cell, polarization of cytoplasmic organelles towards the target, and apparently a precisely directed exocytosis of secretory material.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Biol. Chem.Home page
K. Somersalo, O. Carpén, E. Saksela, C. G. Gahmberg, P. Nortamo, and T. Timonen
Activation of Natural Killer Cell Migration by Leukocyte Integrin-binding Peptide from Intracellular Adhesion Molecule-2 (ICAM-2)
J. Biol. Chem., April 14, 1995; 270(15): 8629 - 8636.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Cell Sci.Home page
J. Burkhardt, J. McIlvain, M. Sheetz, and Y Argon
Lytic granules from cytotoxic T cells exhibit kinesin-dependent motility on microtubules in vitro
J. Cell Sci., January 1, 1993; 104(1): 151 - 162.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 ScienceHome page
S. Singer
Intercellular communication and cell-cell adhesion
Science, March 27, 1992; 255(5052): 1671 - 1677.
[Abstract] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Website Copyright © 1982 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc. All rights reserved.
All Contents Copyright © 1982 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc. All rights reserved.