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Role for IL‐4 nonproducing NKT cells in CC‐chemokine ligand 2‐induced Th2 cell generation
Author(s) -
Fujita Kazuhiko,
Kobayashi Makiko,
Brutkiewicz Randy R,
Hanafusa Toshiaki,
Herndon David N,
Suzuki Fujio
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
immunology and cell biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0818-9641
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1711.2005.01400.x
Subject(s) - natural killer t cell , chemokine , chemistry , cc chemokine receptors , xcl2 , ligand (biochemistry) , microbiology and biotechnology , chemokine receptor , receptor , biology , biochemistry , cytotoxic t cell , in vitro
NKT cells from C57Bl/6 mice are known to be the initial cellular source of IL‐4 that acts as a trigger for Th2 cell differentiation. CC‐chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) has been described as an initial stimulator of IL‐4 production by these cells; however, IL‐4 was not produced by NKT cells from BALB/c mice even when Th2 cell responses were established in these mice. In this study, we found a new pathway for CCL2‐associated Th2 cell generation in BALB/c mice. Splenic T cells from BALB/c mice produced IL‐4 in response to CCL2 stimulation. However, IL‐4 production was not seen in cultures of splenic T cells from CD1 −/− mice (BALB/c origin), whereas, in the presence of CCL2, splenic T cells from CD1 −/− mice produced IL‐4 when NKT cells from wild‐type mice were added. CCL2 induced IL‐4 in cultures of NKT cells cocultured with naive T cells, but IL‐4 was not produced by these cells cultured separately with CCL2. Interestingly, IL‐4 was produced by naive T cells cocultured with NKT cells that were previously treated with CCL2 (CCL2‐NKT cells). In addition, IL‐4 was produced by naive T cells supplemented with a culture supernatant of CCL2‐NKT cells. These results indicate that, through the production of a soluble factor(s) other than IL‐4, NKT cells play a role in the CCL2‐associated generation of Th2 cells.