Relation of natural killer cell line NK-92-mediated cytolysis (NK-92-lysis) with the surface markers of major histocompatibility complex class I antigens, adhesion molecules, and Fas of target cells.

Natural killer (NK) cell line NK-92 has recently been established by Klingemann et al. In this study, we compared the NK-92-mediated cytolysis (NK-92-lysis) with the killing of healthy volunteers' NK cells and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells. The NK-92-lysis was partially different from the NK- and LAK-lysis. 1) The NK-92 could kill most of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen-positive tumor cells. 2) The NK cells killed a myeloid leukemia cell line K562, but the NK-92 showed low killer activity against it. 3) The LAK cells could not kill a CD58-deficient cell line OKM-2T, whereas the NK-92 could kill it sufficiently. 4) The NK-92 could not kill CD54-, CD102-deficient cell lines T98G and U373MG; however, the LAK cells could kill them. Blocking tests using specific antibodies revealed the reason for these differences. The K562 expressed relatively low levels of CD54 and CD102. When the K562 was pretreated with anti-CD54 and anti-CD102, the NK-92 could not kill it at all, whereas the NK cells could still kill it, although the killing level decreased. The NK-92 could not kill the anti-CD54- and anti-CD102-treated OKM-2T. The LAK cells could not kill anti-CD58-treated U373MG and T98G. These findings suggest that NK-92-lysis may require the CD54 and CD102 but that NK-lysis does not require them as much, whereas the LAK-lysis may be rather in relation with the CD58. The NK-92 has high killer activity, and may be applicable for clinical use. However, it should be considered that the NK-92 cannnot kill CD54-, CD102-deficient tumor cells.