Further characterization of PNK-E: A monoclonal antibody enhancing porcine natural killer cell activity

Bryon D. Johnson, William G. Wierda, Yoon Berm Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Monoclonal antibody PNK-E binds to approximately 15% of porcine peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) which are PT4 negative and PT8 positive. When cells from tissues of adult pigs are treated with PNK-E, enhancement of natural killer (NK) cell activity is observed from PBL and spleen cells, and a dramatic induction of NK activity is observed from bone marrow cells. With cells derived from tissues of neonatal piglets, PNK-E induces NK activity from PBL and bone marrow cells. To investigate the mechanism of PNK-E-mediated enhancement of NK, proliferation assays, calcium-pulse assays, single-cell assays, and kinetic analyses were performed. PNK-E did not induce proliferation of PBL. PNK-E could be added as late as 30 min prior to termination of Ca2+-pulse assays and still enhance NK activity. Using kinetic analysis PNK-E was found to increase the rate of NK lysis (Vmax) and rate of lytic programming per NK cell (k2) In addition, results from single-cell assays indicate that PNK-E activates a population of normally inactive effector cells. These results indicate that PNK-E enhances the lytic capacity of mature NK cells and induces a population of nonlytic cells to become highly cytolytic cells. Furthermore, the enhancing effects are immediate and do not require an induction period. Thus, PNK-E recognizes and activates a unique triggering molecule that is present on NK cells.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)378-389
Number of pages12
JournalCellular Immunology
Volume134
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1991
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology

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