Natural killer (NK) cells express receptors that recognize major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules and regulate cytotoxicity of target cells. In this study, we demonstrate that Ly49A, a prototypical C-type lectin–like receptor expressed on mouse NK cells, requires species-specific determinants on β2-microglobulin (β2m) to recognize its mouse MHC class I ligand, H-2Dd. The involvement of β2m in the interaction between Ly49A and H-2Dd is also demonstrated by the functional effects of a β2m-specific antibody. We also define three residues in α1/α2 and α3 domains of H-2Dd that are critical for the recognition of H-2Dd on target cells by Ly49A. In the crystal structure of the Ly49A/H-2Dd complex, these residues are involved in hydrogen bonding to Ly49A in one of the two potential Ly49A binding sites on H-2Dd. These data unambiguously indicate that the functional effect of Ly49A as an MHC class I–specific NK cell receptor is mediated by binding to a concave region formed by three structural domains of H-2Dd, which partially overlaps the CD8 binding site.

Ly49A is a C-type lectin-like receptor on NK cells that recognizes MHC class I ligands, H-2D(d) and D(k). The engagement of Ly49A with the ligands inhibits activation of NK cells and protects target cells from lysis by NK cells. Here we express the extracellular region of Ly49A with an N-terminal biotinylation tag in Escherichia coli to obtain soluble Ly49A (sLy49A) after refolding. sLy49A is indistinguishable from native Ly49A expressed on NK cells serologically and in the ability to specifically bind H-2D(d) after tetramerization with R-phycoerythrin-coupled streptavidin. The fluorescently labeled tetramer of sLy49A is applied to explore MHC class I haplotype specificity of Ly49A. We demonstrate the hierarchical reactivity of Ly49A with H-2 of various alleles in the order of d > k, r > p > v > q > s > z. Reactivity of sLy49A tetramer to spleen lymphocytes from B10.QBR mice (H-2K(b), I(b), D(q), Qa-1/Tla(b)) but not from C57BL/10 mice (H-2(b)) identifies H-2D(q) and L(q) as candidates for a Ly49A ligand. Binding of sLy49A tetramer to H-2D(q)- or L(q)-transfected cell lines demonstrates that the two highly related MHC class I molecules, H-2D(q) and L(q), are ligands for Ly49A. sLy49A tetramer staining also demonstrates preferential expression of Ly49A ligand on a subset of B cells in P/J mice. These results provide the basis to examine the molecular mechanism by which Ly49A discriminates polymorphic MHC class I molecules.

ObjectivesWe developed S (+)‐flurbiprofen plaster (SFPP), a novel NSAID patch containing S (+)‐flurbiprofen (SFP), a potent cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor. The purpose of this study was to assess efficacy of SFPP by analysing its effect on the gait disturbance and measuring the prostaglandin E2 (PGE 2) production in synovial fluid in a rat model of knee arthritis.MethodsKnee inflammation was induced in rats by intra‐articular injection of a yeast suspension. Subsequently, an NSAID patch containing SFP, ketoprofen or loxoprofen was applied over the affected knee. Gait was assessed at 2, 4 and 6 h after application of the patch. The PGE 2 concentration in the synovial fluid was measured after the gait assessment.Key findingsApplication of SFPP (0.125, 0.25, 0.5 or 1 mg/sheet) was followed by a decrease in the visual gait score at all the doses examined. In the case of the other two NSAID patches, only the ketoprofen patch (1 or 2 mg/sheet) and loxoprofen patch (5 mg/sheet) produced a decrease in the visual gait score. All of the NSAID patches decreased the PGE 2 production in the synovial fluid.ConclusionsThese results suggest the potential usefulness of SFPP as an analgesic patch in patients with inflammatory joint pain.

NK cells monitor expression of MHC class I by inhibitory receptors and preferentially kill cells that lose or down-regulate MHC class I expression. One possible mechanism by which tumor cells evade NK cell killing is continued expression of appropriate MHC class I ligands to engage inhibitory receptors on NK cells. We show here that small-mol.-wt blockers against the mouse inhibitory NK cell receptor Ly49A enhance NK cell killing of such tumor cells. We identified Ly49A-binding peptides by selecting phages with the capacity to bind recombinant Ly49A expressed in Escherichia coli from a phage display random peptide library. The Ly49A-binding peptides could also bind Ly49A expressed on mammalian cells. Importantly, the Ly49A-binding peptides blocked Ly49A recognition of its MHC class I ligands H-2Dd and H-2Dk. Moreover, blockade of Ly49A by the peptides enhanced cytotoxicity of Ly49A+ NK cells towards H-2Dd-expressing tumor cells. These results clearly indicate effectiveness of small-mol.-wt blockers of inhibitory NK cell receptors in enhancing NK cell-mediated killing of tumor cells that are otherwise resistant because of MHC class I expression.

Regulating the cell surface modulates the actions of the biological cell response, derives practical applications, and is of scientific interest. On the basis of our previous study using dioleylphosphatidylethanolamine poly(ethylene glycol) with multiple units of ethyleneoxide (DOPE-PEG (n)), we demonstrated the potency of DOPE-PEG (80) as a cell surface modulator. We prepared conjugates of DOPE-PEG (80) and two antagonistic peptides (C1, SGGGCLFNLPWLCG; C26, SGGGCPFSFLPWCG), specifically designed for the inhibitory receptor of natural killer (NK) cells. We confirmed that NK cells exhibited cytotoxicity against DOPE-PEG (80)-peptides-incorporated target cells. We further investigated whether the DOPE-PEG (80)-peptides could affect the cytotoxicity of NK cells in a concentration-dependent manner. C1 peptide showed down-regulation of cytotoxicity at higher concentration, whereas C26 peptide exhibited the saturated cytotoxicity of NK cells at the same concentration. These results suggest that DOPE-PEG (80) can achieve the role of a cell surface modulator without inhibiting the action of conjugated molecules, despite their relatively small size.

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