NK cytokine secretion and cytotoxicity occur independently of the SLP-76 adaptor protein

✍ Scribed by Erik J. Peterson; James L. Clements; Zuhair K. Ballas; Gary A. Koretzky

• Book ID: 101311617
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 171 KB
• Volume: 29
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0014-2980
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1521-4141(199907)29:07<2223::aid-immu2223>3.0.co;2-6

✦ Synopsis

The adapter protein SLP-76 is required for T cell development and TCR signal transduction. SLP-76 is also expressed in NK cells, yet splenic populations of NK cells develop normally in SLP-76-deficient mice. We examined the effects of SLP-76 deficiency upon cellular activation through studies of NK function in SLP-76 -/-mice. This study presents evidence that NK populations in both spleen and liver of SLP-76 -/-mice remain intact. Natural cytotoxic responses of SLP-76 -/-splenocytes proceed in a manner comparable to those of wild-type control splenocytes. Similar to controls, SLP-76 -/-splenocytes exhibit enhanced survival and augmented cytotoxic capacity after in vitro culture with IL-2. IL-2-stimulated SLP-76 -/- splenocytes also retain normal antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and the ability to secrete IFN-+ in response to IL-12 stimulation. These results indicate that, unlike events stimulated by TCR engagement, signaling cascades engaged by IL-2 and IL-12 receptors, by Fc + RIIIA (which mediates antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity), and by natural cytotoxicity-associated receptors on murine NK cells can occur independently of SLP-76.