Detection of natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity in hamsters, using Raji target cells

Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity was investigated in both inbred ( CB SsLak ) and outbred [Lak:LVG(SYR)] hamsters. NK cytotoxicity was measured by 51Cr release assay, with mononuclear cells obtained by cardiac puncture used as effector cells and five cell lines (SA-7, Raji, K-562, YAC-1, and IMK101) from various species used as target cells. Positive natural cytotoxicity was observed against SA-7 and Raji cells but not against K-562, YAC-1, or IMK101. Higher cytotoxic indexes were obtained with Raji than with SA-7 target cells. The cytotoxic capacity of NK cells was related to the strain of hamster, the age of the animal, and the effector:target cell ratio. Outbred hamsters exhibited higher NK cytotoxicity than inbred hamsters. Effector cells from hamster less than 1 month old had low NK activity. The specificity of the cell lysis was determined by the use of unlabeled competitor cells and 51Cr-labeled target cells. The results suggest that Raji cells are suitable target cells for the study of NK cytotoxicity in hamsters, and that SA-7 and Raji cells may possess common antigenic determinants recognized by hamster NK cells.