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