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

ObjectivePreviously, 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 MethodsAn NK-HeLa coculture system was used to examine the changes that occur in the gangliosides of HeLa cells.ResultsGD3 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.ConclusionsThis study suggests that interactions between ganglioside GD3 and sialidases in HeLa cells influence the cytotoxic ability of NK cells.