Murine natural killer cells do not express functional transcripts of the alpha-, beta-, or gamma-chain genes of the T cell receptor.
Murine natural killer (NK) cells were purified by sorting with the NK cell-specific monoclonal antibody anti-NK-1.1. Sorted NK-1.1+ cells contained all splenic NK activity and could be propagated in human recombinant IL 2 for 3 to 4 wk. Short-term cultured NK-1.1+ cells maintained the cell-surface phenotype, morphologic appearance, and lytic activity characteristic of freshly isolated splenic NK cells. RNA extracted from this purified and propagated population of NK cells was probed for T cell receptor gene transcripts by Northern blot analysis. No functional transcripts of the alpha-, beta-, or gamma-chain genes of the T cell receptor were detected. These data dissociate NK cells from mature cytotoxic T cells, as well as the earliest identifiable cells committed to the T lineage.
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002469:Cell Separation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*
D007376:Interleukin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell