Interaction of Natural Killer cells with extracellular matrix induces early intracellular signalling events and enhances cytotoxic function

NK cells are endowed with a wide array of adhesion molecules which mediate their interaction with endothelium and extracellular matrix components. We have shown that cross-linking of beta 1 integrins and CD44 on human NK cells induces a signal transduction pathway involving both tyrosine kinase activation and the modulation of intracellular calcium levels. Our studies have also demonstrated the ability of beta 1 integrins and CD44 to upregulate both the spontaneous and the CD16-triggered cytotoxic activity of human NK cells. Although the molecular mechanisms responsible for this costimulatory activity have not been defined yet, our studies indicate that the simultaneous cross-linking of beta 1 integrins and CD44 results in a synergistic effect on CD16-mediated enhancement of intracellular free calcium concentration, and suggest that this may be relevant for the cooperation observed.