Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Supernatant derived from a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (PLC/PRF/5) depresses natural killer (NK) cell activity

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Harvest fluid derived from a human primary hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (PLC/PRF/5) inhibited normal peripheral blood NK-cell activity when either PLC/PRF/5 or K562 cells were employed as targets. MN cells incubated with the PLC/PRF/5 supernatant for only 6 h demonstrated depressed NK-cell activity, which was partially reversible if the cells were washed and incubated in fresh medium for 24 h. Enriched NK cells obtained on discontinuous Percoll gradients employing human tonsillar cells also showed depressed cytotoxicity when treated directly with the tumour harvest fluid. Furthermore, the binding of these cells to the tumour targets could be inhibited by prior treatment of the NK cells with the tumour supernatant. It is suggested that materials produced by tumours may inhibit NK-cell activity by blocking a receptor site on the effector cell, thereby allowing the tumour to proliferate.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Alexander JJ, Bey EM, Geddes EW, Lecatsas G (1976) Establishment of a continuously growing cell line from primary carcinoma of the liver. S Afr Med J 50:2124

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Becker S, Klein E (1976) Decreased “natural-killer” effect in tumour-bearing mice and its relation to the immunity against oncorna virus-determined cell surface antigens. Eur J Immunol 6:892

    Google Scholar 

  3. Haller O, Hansson M, Kiessling R, Wigzell H (1977) Role of non-conventional natural killer cells in resistance against syngeneic tumor cells in vivo. Nature 270:609

    Google Scholar 

  4. Herberman RB, Holden HT (1978) Natural cell-mediated immunity. Adv Cancer Res 27:305

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kiessling R, Haller O (1978) Natural killer cells in the mouse: An alternative immune surveillance mechanism? Contemp Top Immunol 8:171

    Google Scholar 

  6. Pross HF, Baines MG (1976) Spontaneous human lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity against tumour target cells. Int J Cancer 18:593

    Google Scholar 

  7. Son K, Kew M, Rabson AR (1982) Depressed natural killer cell activity in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma — in vitro effects of interferon and levamisole. Cancer 50:2820

    Google Scholar 

  8. Timonen T, Saksela E (1980) Isolation of human natural killer cells by density gradient centrifugation. J Immunol Methods 36:285

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. South African Medical Research Council's Human Cellular Immunology Unit, School of Pathology of the South African Institute for Medical Research and University of the Witwatersrand, P.O. Box 1038, 2000, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Aleta Keong, Jean Herman & Arthur R. Rabson

Authors
  1. Aleta Keong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jean Herman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Arthur R. Rabson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Keong, A., Herman, J. & Rabson, A.R. Supernatant derived from a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (PLC/PRF/5) depresses natural killer (NK) cell activity. Cancer Immunol Immunother 15, 183–187 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00199162

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00199162

Keywords

Search

Navigation