Interferon-inducible protein-10 and lymphotactin induce the chemotaxis and mobilization of intracellular calcium in natural killer cells through pertussis toxin-sensitive and -insensitive heterotrimeric G-proteins.

We show here that interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), an ELR lacking CXC chemokine, and the C chemokine lymphotactin (Ltn) induce the chemotaxis and calcium mobilization in IL2-activated NK (IANK) and CC chemokine-activated NK (CHAK) cells. Cross-desensitization experiments show that IP-10 or Ltn use receptors not shared by other C, CC, or CXC chemokines. The chemotaxis induced by either IP-10 or Ltn for both cell types is inhibited upon pretreatment of these cells with pertussis toxin (PT). Also, Ltn-induced [Ca2+]i in IANK but not in CHAK cells is inhibited upon pretreatment with PT, whereas IP-10-induced [Ca2+]i in IANK and CHAK cells is inhibited upon pretreatment with this toxin. These results suggest important roles for PT-sensitive and -insensitive G-proteins in IP-10-induced and Ltn-induced chemotaxis and calcium fluxes in activated NK cells. This was further implicated after streptolysin O permeabilization of CHAK and IANK cells and after introduction of inhibitory antibodies to the PT-sensitive Gi and Go or the PT-insensitive Gq. Our results suggest that IP-10 and Ltn receptors are coupled to Gi, Go, and Gq in IANK cells and to Gi and Gq in CHAK cells, with a possible low coupling of IP-10, but not of Ltn, receptors to Go in these cells. Together, these results show that IP-10 and Ltn-dependent chemotaxis and calcium mobilization may differentiate at the level of receptor coupling to the heterotrimeric G-proteins.