Multiple natural killer cell‐activating signals are inhibited by major histocompatibility complex class I expression in target cells

Abstract Several lines of evidence indicate that major histocompatibility complex class I molecules expressed by target cells can prevent natural killer cell (NK) lysis, possibly by engaging inhibitory receptors expressed by NK cells. On the other hand it is likely that NK cells must be activated to lysis by the recognition of unidentified NK target structures on target cells. To investigate the relationship between positive activation of NK cells by NK target structures versus inhibition by target cell class I molecules, we have examined various NK/target cell interactions for which the expression of inhibitory class I molecules by the target cells is known. The results suggest that specific properties of the target cell other than the absence of class I expression are necessary to activate NK‐mediated lysis. Furthermore, different effector cell populations, i.e. freshly isolated versus interleukin‐2 activated NK cells, differ in their capacity to kill class I‐deficient lymphoblast target cells. In general, class I‐deficient target cells that are resistant to direct lysis by a given NK population can be lysed by the NK cells when the reaction is mediated by antibody‐dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Most significantly, all types of NK‐mediated lysis of lymphoblasts, of tumor cells and of almost any target by ADCC can be inhibited by appropriate class I gene expression in the target cell. These results suggest a model in which lysis by NK cells must be triggered by any one of a set of distinct target cell ligands, but that all of these signals can be overruled by class I‐mediated inhibition.