Identification of the rat NKG2D ligands, RAE1L and RRLT, and their role in allograft rejection.

ABSTRACT: NKG2D is a receptor expressed by NK cells and subsets of T lymphocytes. On NK cells, NKG2D functions as a stimulatory receptor that induces effector functions. We cloned and expressed two rat NKG2D ligands, both members of the RAE1 family, RAE1L and RRLT, and demonstrate that these ligands can induce IFN-gamma secretion and cytotoxicity by rat NK cells. To examine changes in expression of NKG2D and the NKG2D ligands RAE1L and RRLT after transplantation, we used a Dark Agouti (DA)-->Lewis rat model of liver transplantation. NKG2D expression was significantly increased in allogeneic liver grafts by day 7 post-transplant. Ligands of NKG2D, absent in normal liver, were readily detected in both syngeneic and allogeneic liver grafts by day 1 post-transplant. By day 7 post-transplant, hepatocyte

SUBMITTER: Zhuo M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3057641 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature