Cutting Edge: Identification of E-Cadherin as a Ligand for the Murine Killer Cell Lectin-Like Receptor G1

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 176; no. 3; pp. 1311 - 1315
• Main Authors: Grundemann, Carsten, Bauer, Monika, Schweier, Oliver, von Oppen, Nanette, Lassing, Ute, Saudan, Philippe, Becker, Karl-Friedrich, Karp, Klaus, Hanke, Thomas, Bachmann, Martin F, Pircher, Hanspeter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Am Assoc Immnol 01.02.2006
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens - immunology; Cadherins - biosynthesis; Cadherins - metabolism; Cadherins - physiology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - cytology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Cell Division - immunology; Cell Line; Growth Inhibitors - biosynthesis; Growth Inhibitors - metabolism; Growth Inhibitors - physiology; Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated - immunology; Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated - metabolism; Ligands; Melanoma, Experimental; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Transgenic; Receptors, Immunologic - genetics; Receptors, Immunologic - metabolism
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.176.3.1311

The killer cell lectin-like receptor G1 (KLRG1) is expressed by NK cells and by T cells. In both humans and mice, KLRG1 identifies Ag-experienced T cells that are impaired in their proliferative capacity but are capable of performing effector functions. In this study, we identified E-cadherin as a ligand for murine KLRG1 by using fluorescently labeled, soluble tetrameric complexes of the extracellular domain of the murine KLRG1 molecule as staining reagents in expression cloning. Ectopic expression of E-cadherin in B16.BL6 target cells did not affect cell-mediated lysis by lymphokine-activated NK cells and by CD8 T cells but inhibited Ag-induced proliferation and induction of cytolytic activity of CD8 T cells. E-cadherin is expressed by normal epithelial cells, Langerhans cells, and keratinocytes and is usually down-regulated on metastatic cancer cells. KLRG1 ligation by E-cadherin in healthy tissue may thus exert an inhibitory effect on primed T cells.