PMID: 2500233Jul 15, 1989Paper

Low deformability of lymphokine-activated killer cells as a possible determinant of in vivo distribution

Cancer Research
A SasakiR B Herberman

Abstract

Successful therapy of tumors with lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells is presumably dependent on their cytolytic potential and their gaining access to the target cells through the microcirculation. The latter process involves dissemination through the microvessels, adhesion to the venular walls, and extravasation through them, all of which depend on the size and deformability of these effector cells. The aim of the present study was to measure the deformability of these cells quantitatively using a micropipet aspiration technique and to analyze the deformation data using a mathematical model which yielded parameters indicative of the rigidity of the cell membrane and the cytoplasm. Adherent rat LAK cells, consisting of a highly purified population of interleukin 2-activated large granular lymphocytes, with high cytotoxicity were obtained by a recently developed method. The deformability characteristics of fresh large granular lymphocytes (mean diameter, 7.2 microns), LAK cells (11.0 microns), fresh T-cells (6.6 microns), and concanavalin A-activated T-cells (9.7 microns) were compared. LAK cells were significantly less deformable than other cell types [about one-half at an aspiration pressure of -25 mm of H2O (P less than 0...Continue Reading

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