Articles

NATURAL KILLER LYMPHOCYTES IN RAT LIVER SINUSOIDAL BLOOD

Authors: B Lukomska ( ) , T Ruffa ( ) , L Olszewski ( ) , A Engeset ( )

Abstract

Blood-borne cells with the characteristics described for the natural killer (NK) lymphocytes were recovered from the liver sinusoids in rat. They had cytotoxic activity against K 562 cells in a 18 h ⁵¹Cr release assay. target binding rate and large granular lymphocytes percentage higher than the inflowing portal blood cells. The cytotoxic effector population was non-adherent and peroxidase negative, enriched in cells with Fc- and C36-receptors. Deprivation of liver of portal or mesenteric blood supply significantly decreased the liver NK activity not affecting the level of cytotoxicity in the portal blood. Splenectomy produced only a moderate decrease of activity. These findings may indicate that liver sinusoids is the site of accumulation of blood-born NK cells or of maturation of the NK-precursors. One possible mechanism by which natural cytotoxicity cotrols tumor growth and spread might be the killing of circulating tumor cells arrested in the liver by the blood-born NK-cells.

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How to Cite: Lukomska, B. , Ruffa, T. , Olszewski, L. & Engeset, A. (1983) “NATURAL KILLER LYMPHOCYTES IN RAT LIVER SINUSOIDAL BLOOD”, Lymphology. 16(4).