Identification of a major subset of murine NK cells: Generation of a monoclonal antibody detecting the LGL-1 antigen and functional properties of LGL-1(+) and LGL-1(-) NK cells

Natural killer (NK) cells are a population of large granular lymphocytes (LGL) that are capable of mediating non-MHC-restricted cytolysis of virally infected and various tumor target cells. The ability to identify and further examine the functions of murine NK cells has been hampered by the lack of antibodies that specifically react with this lymphocyte population. A rat monoclonal antibody (MAb) to a major subset of NK cells has been generated that appears to recognize a non-allelic determinant on NK cells and has been designated LGL-1. LGL-1;In vitro culture of NK cells in IL-2 results in the generation of lymphokine activated killer cells (LAK). The contribution of the NK-1.1...