NKTR Knockout Raji Polyclonal Cells are a CRISPR/Cas9-edited polyclonal knockout cell population derived from Raji human B lymphoblastoid cells, featuring targeted disruption of the NKTR gene. This polyclonal population offers a heterogeneous loss-of-function model for investigating NK cell target recognition and signaling, without clonal selection. The cells maintain the Raji background while eliminating NKTR expression.
Raji cells originate from a human Burkitt’s lymphoma and harbor Epstein?CBarr virus (EBV), endogenously expressing B-cell markers including CD19, CD20, and surface IgM. As a well-characterized B lymphoblastoid line, Raji serves as a robust model for lymphoma biology, EBV pathogenesis, and antigen-presenting cell function. Their rapid proliferation and stable phenotype make them suitable for high-throughput and co-culture assays.
NKTR encodes a natural killer cell triggering receptor that, upon ligand engagement, associates with adaptor proteins DAP12, Fc??RI??, and CD3?? to propagate activating signals. Downstream, the receptor triggers phosphorylation of SYK and ZAP70, leading to activation of PI3K, PLC??, ERK, and NF-??B pathways. This culminates in increased expression of cytotoxic effectors such as granzyme B and perforin, and secretion of cytokines including IFN-?? and TNF-??. Upstream, NKTR expression is regulated by cytokines like IL-2, IL-15, IL-12, and type I interferons, through transcription factors STAT5 and NF-??B. In Raji cells, the knockout ablates this receptor, allowing precise dissection of the NKTR signaling network.
By eliminating NKTR from Raji cells, this knockout model provides a defined system to study NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity against B-cell targets. It enables researchers to dissect how NKTR loss alters immune synapse formation, degranulation, and cytokine responses in co-cultures with primary NK cells or NK cell lines. The model is particularly valuable for understanding tumor immune escape mechanisms, as Raji cells naturally lack NK cell receptors, making NKTR expression a key modifiable variable in controlled experiments.
Typical applications include NK cell cytotoxicity assays such as chromium-51 release, flow cytometric measurement of CD107a degranulation, and ELISA-based quantification of secreted IFN-?? and TNF-??. Western blotting for phosphorylated SYK and ERK can assess proximal signaling, while RT-qPCR confirms NKTR transcript ablation. The polyclonal population is suited for screening small-molecule modulators of NK cell activation or for validating candidate immunotherapies targeting NK cell checkpoints. This product is ideal for academic and pharmaceutical researchers advancing cancer immunotherapy and infectious disease studies. For further technical details or custom inquiries, please contact Ascent Research.
