Skip to main content
Log in

A multigene family on human chromosome 12 encodes natural killer-cell lectins

Immunogenetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We previously isolated a series of cDNA clones designated NKG2-A, B, C, and D from a human natural killer (NK) cell library. These transcripts encode a family of type II integral membrane proteins having an extracellular Ca2+-dependent lectin domain. The predicted peptides share structural similarities and amino acid sequence similarity with known receptor molecules. In this report, the genomic organization and mRNA expression of each of the genes were studied by using transcript-specific probes. Southern blot experiments reveal that the probes cross-hybridize with a maximum of five genes at high stringency. By probing a Southern blot prepared from a series of hamster/human hybrid somatic cell lines, we demonstrated that all of the hybridizing fragments occur on human chromosome 12. No gene rearrangement and little restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was observed with these probes. mRNA expression of the NKG2 genes occured in NK cells and some T cells but not in other hematopoietic cell types or in other tissues tested. Each of the transcripts occurred in all three of the NK cell lines tested: however, the genes were differentially regulated in T cells. NKG2-D was expressed in nine of fourteen T-cell clones or lines in the panel, whereas NKG2-A/B was expressed in three and NKG2-C was expressed in only one. Expression of each of the transcripts was upregulated following T-cell growth factor (TCGF)-induced activation of a cloned NK cell. The limited distribution of these proteins and their sequence similarity with known receptor molecules suggest that they may function as receptors of human NK cells.

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

Access this article

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ashwell, G. and Harford, J. Carbohydrate-specific receptors of the liver. Annu Rev Biochem 51: 531–544, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambers, W. H., Vujanovic, N. L., De Leo, A. B., Olszowy, M. W., Herberman, R. B., and Hiserodt, J. C. Monoclonal antibody to a triggering structure expressed on rat natural killer cells and adherent lymphokine-activated killer cells. J Exp Med 169: 1373–1389, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisch, P., Malkovsky, M., Braakman, E., Strum, E., Bolhuis, R. L., Prieve, A., Sosman, J. A., Lam, V. A., and Sondel, P. M. Gamma/delta T cell clones and natural killer cell clones mediate distinct patterns of non-major histocompatibility complex-restricted cytolysis. J Exp Med 171 (5): 1567–1579, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  • Giorda, R., Rudert, W. A., Vavassori, C., Chambers, W. H., Hiserodt, J. C., and Trucco, M. NKR-P1, a signal transduction molecule on natural killer cells. Science 249: 1298–1300, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  • Giorda, R. and Trucco, M. Mouse NKR-P1. A family of genes selectively coexpressed in adherent lymphokine-activated killer cells. J Immunol 147: 1701–1708, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  • Houchins, J. P., Yabe, T., McSherry, C., Miyokawa, N., and Bach, F. H. Isolation and characterization of NK cell or NK/T cell-specific cDNA clones. J Mol Cell Immunol 4: 295–306, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  • Houchins, J. P., Yabe, T., McSherry, C., and Bach, F. H. DNA sequence analysis of NKG2, a family of related cDNA clones encoding type II integral membrane proteins on human natural killer cells. J Exp Med 173: 1017–1020, 1991

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karlhofer, F. M. and Yokoyama, W. M. Specific activation of lymphokine activated killer cells by monoclonal antibodies specific for the NK1.1, Ly-6 and VEA antigens. NK cells can be activated only by anti-NK1.1 FASEB J 5: A1099, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolb, J. P., Renard, D., Dugas, B., Genot, E., Petit-Koskas, E., Sarfati, M., Delespesse, G., and Poggioli, J. Monoclonal anti-CD23 antibodies induce a rise in [Ca2+]i and polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis in human activated B cells. Involvement of a Gp protein. J Immunol 145 (2): 429–437, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  • Kouri, R. E., Lewis, M., Barker, D. F., Dietz-Band, J. N., Nguyen, K. N., McLemore, T., and Wasmuth, J. J. Mapping 14 human gene sequences with a commercially available somatic cell hybrid panel. Cytogenet Cell Genet 51: 1025, 1989. (Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mamula, P. W., Heerma, N. A., Palmer, C. G., Lyons, K. M., and Karn, R. C. Localization of the human salivary proteins complex (SPC) to chromosome band 12p13.2. Cytogenet Cell Genet 39: 279–284, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicklas, J. A., Noreen, H. J., Segall, M., and Bach, F. H. Southern analysis of DNA polymorphism among Dw subtypes of DR4. Hum Immunol 13: 95–103, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  • Panzer, S., Geller, R. L., and Bach, F. H. Purified human T cells stimulated with cross-linked anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody OKT3: rIL-1 is a costimulatory factor for CD4+CD29+-CD45RA-T cells. Scand J Immunol 32: 359–371, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritz, J. The role of natural killer cells in immune surveillance. New Eng J Med 320: 1748–1749, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  • Trinchieri, G. Biology of natural killer cells. Adv Immunol 47: 187–376, 1989

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vujanovic, N. L., Herberman, R. B., Al Maghazachi, A., and Hiserodt, J. C. Lymphokine-activated killer cells in rats. III. A simple method for the purification of large granular lymphocytes and their rapid expansion and conversion into lymphokine-activated killer cells. J Exp Med 167: 15–29, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong, S., Freeman, J. D., Kelleher, C., Mager, D., and Takei, F. Ly-49 multigene family. New members of a superfamily of type II membrane proteins with lectin-like domains. J Immunol 147: 1417–1423, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  • Yokoyama, W. M., Jacobs, L. B., Kanagawa, O., Shevach, E. M., and Cohen, D. I. A murine T lymphocyte antigen belongs to a supergene family of type II integral membrane proteins. J Immunol 143: 1379–1386, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  • Yokoyama, W. M., Kehn, P. J., Cohen, D. I., and Shevach, E. M. Chromosomal location of the Ly-49 (AI, YE1/48) multigene family. Genetic association with the NK1.1 antigen. J Immunol 145: 2353–2358, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  • Yokoyama, W. M., Ryan, J. C., Hunter, J. J., Smith, H. R. C., Stark, M., and Seaman, W. E. cDNA cloning of mouse NKR-P1 and genetic linkage with LY-49. Identification of a natural killer cell gene complex on mouse chromosome 6. J Immunol 147: 3229–3236, 1991

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yabe, T., McSherry, C., Bach, F.H. et al. A multigene family on human chromosome 12 encodes natural killer-cell lectins. Immunogenetics 37, 455–460 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00222470

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00222470

Keywords

Navigation