The KLRB1 Knockout SK-OV-3 Polyclonal Cells product provides a polyclonal population of SK-OV-3 cells in which the KLRB1 gene has been disrupted via CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing. These polyclonal knockout cells enable loss-of-function studies of the KLRB1-encoded CD161 receptor within a heterogeneous cell pool, reflecting a more natural mixture of edited genotypes compared to monoclonal lines. This format is well suited for examining bulk cellular responses and population-level phenotypes in immune receptor research.
The host cell line, SK-OV-3, is a well-established human ovarian adenocarcinoma epithelial line originally derived from the ascites of a patient with ovarian cancer. SK-OV-3 cells are widely employed as a model system for studying ovarian cancer biology, including tumor cell signaling, drug resistance, and interactions with immune components. Their epithelial origin and molecular characteristics make them a relevant platform for investigating tumor-immune crosstalk in an adenocarcinoma context.
KLRB1 encodes CD161, a C-type lectin receptor expressed on natural killer (NK) and T cell subsets. Upon binding its ligand CLEC2D (LLT1), CD161 transmits inhibitory or activating signals that modulate immune cell cytotoxicity and cytokine production. CD161 signaling is regulated by upstream factors including interleukin-12 (IL-12), IL-15, and the transcription factors RORC and TBX21. Downstream, CD161 engagement influences the activity of the phosphatases PTPN6 and PTPN11, the kinase SYK, and AKT1, ultimately affecting interferon-gamma (IFNG) expression. This pathway integrates extracellular cues to govern immune cell effector functions within the tumor microenvironment.
In the context of ovarian cancer, CD161?CLLT1 interactions may contribute to immune evasion or modulation of anti-tumor responses. Dysregulation of this axis has been implicated in cancer and autoimmune diseases. The use of KLRB1-disrupted SK-OV-3 cells allows investigators to dissect the role of tumor cell-expressed CD161??if present??or to employ these cells in co-culture systems where CD161 on immune effector cells can be interrogated. This model provides a valuable tool for exploring how CD161 signaling influences ovarian cancer cell behavior and immune cell crosstalk.
These polyclonal knockout cells are suitable for a range of experimental applications, including functional assays examining tumor-immune interactions, co-culture models with NK cells to assess cytotoxicity, and signaling studies of the CD161/LLT1 axis. Researchers can validate target disruption via western blotting and RT-qPCR, confirm CD161 loss by flow cytometry, and measure cytokine secretion using ELISA. Apoptosis assays can further delineate the impact of KLRB1 disruption on cell death pathways. For further details or to inquire about product availability, please contact Ascent Research.
