Interactive effects of Na and K in killing by natural killer cells

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Experimental Cell Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-4827(89)90368-6· OSTI ID:5714539

Schlichter, L C; MacCoubrey, I C ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Toronto, Ontario (Canada)

Contact-mediated lysis by human natural killer cells is inhibited by a number of drugs that block the predominant K channel. In this study the authors have further examined the role of the K channel and the interactions between passive K and Na transport in killing. Low external Na-inhibited killing and inhibition were not due to reduced inward current through the Na channels in the target cell. A role for the Na/H antiport is suggested since amiloride inhibited killing in a dose-dependent manner that was competitive with external Na. Depolarizing the killer cell with elevated external K did not inhibit killing. On the contrary, high K{sub 0} reduced the inhibition caused by low Na{sub 0} and by the K-channel blockers quinidine, verapamil, and retinoic acid. Hyperpolarizing the killer cell with low K{sub 0} or valinomycin inhibited killing. Hence, the primary role of the K channels during killing is not to maintain the negative membrane potential. On the contrary, depolarization may promote killing under conditions where killing is submaximal.

• OSTI ID: 5714539
• Journal Information: Experimental Cell Research; (United States), Vol. 184:1; ISSN 0014-4827
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
CHROMIUM 51
MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
LYMPHOCYTES
CELL KILLING
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
MAN
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
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BODY FLUIDS
CHROMIUM ISOTOPES
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
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LEUKOCYTES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
NUCLEI
PRIMATES
RADIOISOTOPES
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VERTEBRATES
550301* - Cytology- Tracer Techniques