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Surface Characteristics, Morphology, and Ultrastructure of Human Adherent Lymphokine‐Activated Killer Cells
Author(s) -
Melder Robert J.,
Walker Elizabeth R.,
Herberman Ronald B.,
Whiteside Theresa L.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1002/jlb.48.2.163
Subject(s) - lymphokine activated killer cell , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , lymphokine , pseudopodia , cytotoxic t cell , ultrastructure , cytoplasm , lymphocyte , population , cytoskeleton , cell , interleukin 12 , immunology , actin , in vitro , antigen , anatomy , biochemistry , demography , sociology
Human adherent lymphokine‐activated killer (A‐LAK) cells represent a population of highly cytotoxic, interleukin‐2 (IL‐2)‐activated peripheral blood lymphocytes that have large granular lymphocyte (LGL) morphology and display natural killer (NK) cell‐associated surface markers (CD3 ‐ CD56 + ). The ultrastructure of A‐LAK cells also is consistent with that of highly activated NK cells. After their initial isolation, continued culture of A‐LAK cells in the presence of IL‐2 resulted in cyclic shifts between adherent and nonadherent phases with about 90% of the cells floating and non‐adherent. All of these A‐LAK cells were spheroidal with numerous villi and pseudopodia. In the adherent phase, A‐LAK cells were motile, moving along the solid surface at a speed of about 1 μm per minute, and polar, with a ruffled leading edge at one end of the cell and a terminal tuft of villi at the opposite end. Transmission electron microscopy of these cells also demonstrated a high degree of Internal polarity, with the nucleus at the leading edge of the cell and richly granulated cytoplasm at the terminal end. Extensive cytoskeletal structures, multivesicular bodies, and an active Golgi complex characterized these cells. A‐LAK cells in the adherent phase were found to express numerous point contacts (podosomes) and larger adherence structures containing polymerized actin, which appear to be important for interactions of these cells with the substrate. Increased expression of adhesion molecules in association with surface structures mediating adherence is also responsible for effective binding of A‐LAK cells to solid surfaces.