Expression patterns of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) of NK-cell and T-cell subsets in Old World monkeys

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 8; no. 5; p. e64936
• Main Authors: Hermes, Meike, Albrecht, Christina, Schrod, Annette, Brameier, Markus, Walter, Lutz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 22.05.2013; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies; Baboons; Biology; CD8 antigen; Cercopithecidae - immunology; Cytometry; Flow Cytometry; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I - immunology; Housing conditions; Immunoglobulin-like receptors; Immunoglobulins; Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Laboratory animals; Ligands; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Macaca mulatta; Major histocompatibility complex; Monkeys; Monkeys & apes; Monoclonal antibodies; Natural killer cells; Oryza; Potassium channels (inwardly-rectifying); Proteins; Receptors; Receptors, KIR - immunology; Receptors, KIR - metabolism; T-Lymphocyte Subsets; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Tires
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064936

The expression of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) on lymphocytes of rhesus macaques and other Old World monkeys was unknown so far. We used our recently established monoclonal anti-rhesus macaque KIR antibodies in multicolour flow cytometry for phenotypic characterization of KIR protein expression on natural killer (NK) cells and T cell subsets of rhesus macaques, cynomolgus macaques, hamadryas baboons, and African green monkeys. Similar to human KIR, we found clonal expression patterns of KIR on NK and T cell subsets in rhesus macaques and differences between individuals using pan-KIR3D antibody 1C7 and antibodies specific for single KIR. Similar results were obtained with lymphocytes from the other studied species. Notably, African green monkeys show only a low frequency of KIR3D expressed on CD8+ αβT cells. Contrasting human NK cells are KIR-positive CD56bright NK cells and frequencies of KIR-expressing NK cells that are independent of the presence of their cognate MHC class I ligands in rhesus macaques. Interestingly, the frequency of KIR-expressing cells and the expression strength of KIR3D are correlated in γδ T cells of rhesus macaques and CD8+ αβT cells of baboons.