Table 2. Classification of cytotoxic... | American Society of Hematology

Table 2.

Classification of cytotoxic cells according to immunophenotype, molecular, and functional parameters.

Parameter	T-cell	NK-like T cell	NK-cell
* CD16, CD56, CD57 ** Some populations lack NK-cell antigens ^‡ TCR gene rearrangement and protein expression
Abbreviations: TCR, T-cell receptor; MHC, major histocompatibility complex
Modified from Kinney MC, 1999 ⁶
NK-cell antigens*	-	+	+**
Cytoplasmic CD3 (epsilon chain)	+	+	+/-
Surface CD3	+	+	-
CD4, CD8	CD8+>>>CD4+	CD8+>CD4-CD8->>CD4+	CD4-CD8+/-
TCRαβ,γδ^‡	+	+	-
Cytotoxic granules	+	+	+
Killing mechanism	MHC restricted	Non-MHC restricted	Non-MHC restricted

Parameter	T-cell	NK-like T cell	NK-cell
* CD16, CD56, CD57 ** Some populations lack NK-cell antigens ^‡ TCR gene rearrangement and protein expression
Abbreviations: TCR, T-cell receptor; MHC, major histocompatibility complex
Modified from Kinney MC, 1999 ⁶
NK-cell antigens*	-	+	+**
Cytoplasmic CD3 (epsilon chain)	+	+	+/-
Surface CD3	+	+	-
CD4, CD8	CD8+>>>CD4+	CD8+>CD4-CD8->>CD4+	CD4-CD8+/-
TCRαβ,γδ^‡	+	+	-
Cytotoxic granules	+	+	+
Killing mechanism	MHC restricted	Non-MHC restricted	Non-MHC restricted