EXPRESSION OF T-CELL ASSOCIATED ANTIGENS BY PORCINE NATURAL-KILLER CELLS

Abstract

We have examined the cell surface phenotype of porcine natural killer (NK) cells and compared them with classic porcine cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). NK cells were susceptible to treatment with monocolonal antibodies to CD2 (PT11), CD* (PT8) and Ia pluc complement (C), as well as with antiserum to asialo-GM 1 (ASGMI) plus C. In addition, monoclonal antibodies to leucocyte function antigen 1 (LFA-1) but not to CD8 blocked NK-mediated lysis in the absence of C. This is in contrast to porcine CTL, which were eliminated by antibodies to leucocyte function antigen 1 (LFA-1) but not to CD8 blocked NK-mediated lysis in the absence of C. This is in contrast to porcine CTL, which were eliminated by antibodies to CD2. CD8 and Ia plus C, but not by anti-ASGMI plus C, and which were blocked by anti-CD8 in the absence of C. Therefore, although procine NK cells are similar to procine CTL, they are distinguished by several important differences.