Cutting edge: the mouse NK cell-associated antigen recognized by DX5 monoclonal antibody is CD49b (alpha 2 integrin, very late antigen-2).

DX5 mAb is a useful reagent because it stains NK cells from all mouse strains examined. We have identified the molecule recognized by DX5 mAb by using a retrovirus-mediated expression cloning system. A 5-kb cDNA encoding a protein that is reactive with the DX5 mAb was isolated from a NK cell cDNA library, and this molecule was identical with CD49b (very late Ag-2, alpha(2) integrin). The DX5 mAb reacted with transfectants expressing CD49b, and binding of DX5 to the NK cells and CD49b transfectants was blocked in the presence of other anti-CD49b mAbs. When NK1.1(+) NK cells were cultured with IL-2, they progressively lost reactivity with DX5 mAb as a consequence of cellular proliferation. Cytotoxicity mediated by the DX5(+) NK cells was dramatically higher as compared with DX5(-) NK cells. Therefore, DX5 mAb recognizes CD49b and can be used to define functionally distinct subsets of NK cells.