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An sem analysis of the interaction between lymphokine‐activated killer cells and tumor targets
Author(s) -
Arancia G.,
Malorni W.,
Iosi F.,
Grossi C. E.,
Zarcone D.,
Donelli G.
Publication year - 1989
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.2910440716
Subject(s) - lymphokine activated killer cell , k562 cells , lymphokine , lysis , cell , microbiology and biotechnology , membrane , programmed cell death , effector , biology , natural killer cell , chemistry , biophysics , cytotoxicity , immunology , apoptosis , interleukin 21 , in vitro , immune system , t cell , biochemistry
Abstract The interaction between lymphokine‐activated killer (LAK) cells and two types of target cells with different susceptibility to natural killer (NK) activity was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In NK‐susceptible tumor cells (K562) a different mode of conjugation with the effector was observed as compared with NK‐resistant targets (THP‐I‐O). In LAK‐K562 pairs, the contact region was characterized by the presence of long microvilli, blebs and ruffled membranes forming an intertwined and interdigitated binding site. Conversely, when LAK cells were conjugated with THP‐I‐O cells, the surface structures of the target cell did not undergo significant modification and the interacting cells did not appear to establish close contact. In addition, cell lysis of the sensitive target was often characterized by plasma membrane blebbing, leading to cell death. In contrast, in the low percentage of resistant targets which underwent lysis after conjugation, cell death always occurred without formation of bulb‐ or bleb‐like structures.