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Natural cell‐mediated cytotoxicity in rats. II. In vivo augmentation of NK‐cell activity
Author(s) -
Oehler J. Ronald,
Lindsay Leroy R.,
Nunn Myrthel E.,
Holden Howard T.,
Herberman Ronald B.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910210213
Subject(s) - cytotoxicity , in vivo , biology , natural killer cell , cell , spleen , in vitro , interferon , receptor , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry
Natural cell‐mediated cytotoxicity in rats as well as in mice has been shown to vary consistently with age, with peak levels detectable at 5–10 weeks. The levels of cell‐mediated cytotoxicity against tumor cells could be augmented in strains of inbred rats with either high or low levels of natural reactivity, by IP injection of a variety of agents, including C. parvum 3 , LCMV, KRV, and poly I:C. The specificity of the augmented cytotoxicity appeared to be the same as the specificity of natural killer cells which are found in normal rat spleen cells. Similarly, the cells mediating the augmented cellular cytotoxicity were small, non‐adherent, esterase‐negative lymphocytes with Fc receptors, as are rat NK cells. The kinetics and organ distribution of the augmentation of NK activity by poly I:C and C. parvum were compared and the kinetics were found to differ, with a shorter time course of augmented activity seen after inoculation with poly I:C. These data indicate that interferon may play a central role in the augmentation of NK activity in vivo .