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Articles |
Production in Human Natural Killer Cells


Biotechnology Section, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura del Tumori, 16100 Genoa, Italy; the
Mediterranean Institute of Neurosciences "Neuromed," 86170 Pozzilli, Italy; and the || Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, 00100 Rome, Italy
Recent evidence indicates that integrin engagement results in the activation of biochemical signaling events important for regulating different cell functions, such as migration, adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and specific gene expression. Here, we report that β1 integrin ligation on human natural killer (NK) cells results in the activation of Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. Formation of Shc–growth factor receptor–bound protein 2 (Grb2) and Shc–proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2–Grb2 complexes are the receptor-proximal events accompanying the β1 integrin–mediated Ras activation. In addition, we demonstrate that ligation of β1 integrins results in the stimulation of interferon
(IFN-
) production, which is under the control of extracellular signal–regulated kinase 2 activation. Overall, our data indicate that β1 integrins, by delivering signals capable of triggering IFN-
production, may function as NK-activating receptors.
Key Words: natural killer cells integrins Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway interferon 
This work was partially supported by grants from the Italian Association for Cancer Research (AIRC), Istituto Superiore di Sanità Italy-USA "Therapy of Tumors" Program, Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica (MURST) 40% and 60%, Ministero della Sanità, and by a Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche special project on Biotechnologies.
Abbreviations used: Erk, extracellular signal–regulated kinase; FN, fibronectin; Fak, focal adhesion kinase; GAM, goat anti–mouse IgG F(ab')2; Grb2, growth factor–bound protein 2; GST, glutathione S-transferase; Jnk, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; MBP, myelin basic protein; MEK, MAPK kinase; Pyk-2, proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2.
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