Expression of Human T-Lymphocyte Antigens by Natural Killer Cells2

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Abstract
Rabbit antisera against human T-lymphocyte and B-lymphocyte antigens (anti-HTLA and anti-HBLA, respectively) were used to characterize natural killer (NK) cells mediating spontaneous cell-mediated cytotoxicity for myelogenous leukemia cell line K562 as measured in a 15Cr-release assay. NK activity of lymphocyte suspensions was abrogated by incubation of the suspensions in anti-HTLA plus complement but not by incubation in anti-HBLA plus complement. The effect of antiHTLA was due to removal of NK cells rather than antigenantibody complex inhibition of NK cells inasmuch as lytic complement was necessary. The results indicated that NK cells were HTLA+-HBLA- and thus supported the concept that NK cells are T-cells.