Relationship of natural killer-cell activity to rhesus antigens in man

A number of previous studies have shown that the level of natural killer (NK) cell activity in humans is relatively constant for a given individual but varies widely between individuals. The factors which determine this variability are largely unknown, but genetic factors appear to be involved. In t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of cancer 1979-03, Vol.39 (3), p.234-240
Main Authors: Hersey, P, Edwards, A, Trilivas, C, Shaw, H, Milton, G W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Cancer Research
Cell Line
Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
Drug Resistance
Epidemiology
Female
Genes
Humans
Killer Cells, Natural - immunology
Male
Melanoma - blood
Melanoma - immunology
Melanoma - mortality
Middle Aged
Molecular Medicine
Oncology
original-article
Rh-Hr Blood-Group System
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Summary:A number of previous studies have shown that the level of natural killer (NK) cell activity in humans is relatively constant for a given individual but varies widely between individuals. The factors which determine this variability are largely unknown, but genetic factors appear to be involved. In the present study it was found that Rh- normal subjects and melanoma patients had significantly higher natural cytotoxicity to target cells than Rh+ patients. This difference did not appear to be due to sensitization against Rh antigens on the target cell and may indicate that genes determining NK-cell activity are associated with those determining the expression of Rh antigens. Analysis of the survival data for Rh- and Rh+ patients did not reveal any increase in survival attributable to the higher natural cytotoxicity in Rh- patients.
ISSN:0007-0920
1532-1827
DOI:10.1038/bjc.1979.46