S. Kondo et al., TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR-ALPHA INDUCES AN INCREASE IN SUSCEPTIBILITY OF HUMAN GLIOBLASTOMA U87-MG CELLS TO NATURAL-KILLER CELL-MEDIATED LYSIS, British Journal of Cancer, 69(4), 1994, pp. 627-632
The mechanism by which tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha increases th
e susceptibility of U87-MG human glioblastoma cells to lysis by natura
l killer (NK) cells was studied. Treatment with TNF-alpha (100 units m
l-1) for 48 h enhanced the susceptibility of tumour cells to lysis by
NK cells. Increased susceptibility to lysis was associated with enhanc
ed expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and HLA cl
ass I antigen. Antisense ICAM-1 oligonucleotide inhibited lysis by NK
cells of TNF-alpha-treated tumour cells. In contrast, acid treatment f
ollowing TNF-alpha treatment increased lysis by NK cells. These findin
gs indicate that TNF-alpha treatment of glioblastoma cells increased t
heir susceptibility to lysis by NK cells, since ICAM-1 up-regulation w
ould have more profound effects on NK susceptibility than would HLA cl
ass I antigen up-regulation.