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Surface receptors identify mouse NK1.1 + T cell subsets distinguished by function and T cell receptor type
Author(s) -
Stenström Martin,
Sköld Markus,
Ericsson Anna,
Beaudoin Lucie,
Sidobre Stephane,
Kronenberg Mitchell,
Lehuen Agnès,
Cardell Susanna
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
european journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1521-4141
pISSN - 0014-2980
DOI - 10.1002/eji.200323963
Subject(s) - biology , receptor , cell , function (biology) , microbiology and biotechnology , cell surface receptor , type (biology) , cell type , genetics , ecology
Abstract Natural killer T (NKT) lymphocytes rapidly produce several cytokines, including IL‐4 and IFN‐γ, upon activation, and act as regulatory cells at an early interphase of innate and adaptive immune responses. They have been implicated as important elements in diverse immune responses including the regulation of autoimmune disease, the immune response to infections, and the prevention of tumor metastasis. The broad spectrum of their activities suggested that functionally different subsets of NKT cells may exist. We demonstrate two functionally distinct splenic NKT populations identified by the expression of CD49b and CD69, respectively. Each NKT subset was represented by the amplified transgenic NKT cell population in a distinct transgenic mouse line expressing a CD1d‐restricted TCR. CD49b high CD69 – NKT cells, termed NKT1 cells by us, were high producers of IFN‐γ after stimulation, but essentially devoid of IL‐4‐synthesizing cells. Most NKT1 cells used diverse (non‐Vα14‐canonical) TCR. The CD69 + CD49 –/low NKT cell population, which we term NKT2, produced large quantities of IL‐4 and substantial amounts of IFN‐γ upon activation and were dominated by cells using the canonical Vα14‐Jα18 T cell receptor. Knowledge of the unique roles of the different NKT cell subsets in specific situations will be essential for our understanding of NKT cell biology.