| 摘要 |
The present invention encompasses a receptor molecule present on the surface of natural killer cells (NK cells) and non-specific cytotoxic cells (NCC) which is involved in non-specific lysis of target cells bearing an antigen recognized by the receptor molecule, an antigen common to the surface of cells recognized and lysed by natural killer cells, monoclonal and heterologous antibodies which bind to the receptor and target cell antigen(s) which are useful in their identification and purification, and methods for altering NK cell-mediated lysis of target cells. The monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) of the present invention were prepared by cell fusions between spleen cells from mice immunized with either non-specific cytotoxic cells (NCC) from catfish (anti-receptor antibodies) or NC-37 human lymphoblastoid B-cells, which are susceptible to lysis by NK cells, and myeloma cells. Eight distinct mAbs have been characterized, four directed against the NK/NCC target cell receptor and four against the NK/NC cell antigen. As used in the present invention "NK cells" will be used to include both natural killer cells of mammalian origin and non-specific cytotoxic cells of fish origin, unless specifically stated otherwise. Two of the mAbs directed against the receptor and two of the mAbs against the NK target cell antigen are able to significantly inhibit NK lysis at low mAb concentrations, as assessed by inhibition of cellular toxicity. Two of the mAbs directed against the receptor and two of the mAbs against the NK target cell antigen bind to the antigen(s) but do not inhibit lysis.
|
