Hammond, Kirsten J. L., Pelikan, Sonja B., Crowe, Nadine Y., Randle-Barrett, Elise, Nakayama, Toshinori, Taniguchi, Masaru, Smyth, Mark J., van Driel, Ian R., Scollay, Roland, Baxter, Alan G., and Godfrey, Dale I. (1999) NKT cells are phenotypically and functionally diverse. European Journal of Immunology, 29 (11). pp. 3768-3781.

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Abstract

NK1.1+α βTCR+ (NKT) cells have several important roles including tumor rejection and prevention of autoimmune disease. Although both CD4+ and CD4–CD8– double-negative (DN) subsets of NKT cells have been identified, they are usually described as one population. Here, we show that NKT cells are phenotypically, functionally and developmentally heterogeneous, and that three distinct subsets (CD4+, DN and CD8+) are differentially distributed in a tissue-specific fashion. CD8+ NKT cells are present in all tissues but the thymus, and are highly enriched for CD8α+β– cells. These subsets differ in their expression of a range of cell surface molecules (Vβ8, DX5, CD69, CD45RB, Ly6C) and in their ability to produce IL-4 and IFN-γ, with splenic NKT cell subsets producing lower levels than thymic NKT cells. Developmentally, most CD4+ and DN NKT cells are thymus dependent, in contrast to CD8+ NKT cells, and are also present amongst recent thymic emigrants in spleen and liver. TCR Jα281-deficient mice show a dramatic deficiency in thymic NKT cells, whereas a significant NKT cell population (enriched for the DN and CD8+ subsets) is still present in the periphery. Taken together, this study reveals a far greater level of complexity within the NKT cell population than previously recognized.

Item ID:	8414
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1521-4141
Keywords:	NKT cell; Thymus; Cytokine
Date Deposited:	13 Aug 2010 02:22
FoR Codes:	11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1107 Immunology > 110703 Autoimmunity @ 100%
SEO Codes:	92 HEALTH > 9201 Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions) > 920108 Immune System and Allergy @ 100%
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