Altered ganglioside GD3 in HeLa cells might influence the cytotoxic abilities of NK cells

Abstract

Objective: Previously, we found that altered sialidases in HeLa cells in a natural killer-HeLa (NK-HeLa) coculture system contributed to the decreased cytotoxic ability of NK cells. However, changes that occur in the glycosylation of the HeLa cells in the NK-HeLa coculture system remain unknown.

Materials and methods: An NK-HeLa coculture system was used to examine the changes that occur in the gangliosides of HeLa cells.

Results: GD3 expression in HeLa cells was significantly increased in the NK-HeLa coculture system. Exogenous ganglioside GD3 decreased the cytotoxic ability of the NK cells, which could be restored by the addition of the anti-GD3 antibody. Coadministration of GD3 and sialidase further decreased the cytotoxic ability of the NK cells, which could be partially restored by the addition of a sialidase inhibitor (DANA). GD3 expression in HeLa cells also decreased following DANA treatment.

Conclusions: This study suggests that interactions between ganglioside GD3 and sialidases in HeLa cells influence the cytotoxic ability of NK cells.