Studies of adenovirus subtypes and down-regulation of HLA class I expression: correlations to natural-killer-mediated cytolysis.

Natural killer cell (NK) cytotoxicity historically has been accepted to be unrelated to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) expression. However, recent studies have indicated that a decrease in MHC antigen expression leads to a concomitant increase in NK cytotoxicity. We have, therefore, studied the alteration of HLA class I expression by 6 types of adenovirus in the human cell line HEp-2. We conclude that for the 6 types of adenovirus tested, HLA class I expression and NK cytotoxicity are not interrelated.