Ontogeny of Nk-1+ natural killer cells. I. Promotion of Nk-1+ cells in fetal, baby, and old mice.
Using anti-Nk-1.1 serum, the alloantiserum specific for murine natural killer (NK) cells, we followed the ontogenetic development of Nk-1+ cells in fetal thymus, liver, and spleen. A transient population of Nk-1+ cells in fetal thymus was observed on day 14 but not on day 16 of gestation. On day 16 of gestation, Nk-1+ cells were detected only in liver and spleen. The proportion of Nk-1+ cells in spleen remained high (20 to 30%) at birth and persisted until 2 to 3 wk old. The Nk-1+ cells in "baby" (1 to 2 wk old) spleen bound to YAC cells but failed to lyse them in 51Cr-release assay. Upon induction with interferon (IF), the proportion of Nk-1+ cells increased, but the lytic activity remained low, suggesting that the "baby" NK-1+ cells are immature in lytic function. In old mice (12 to 14 mo), Nk-1+ cells were also detectable, even though NK activities were lower compared with those of the young adult (6 to 8 wk old) mice. The Nk-1+ cells of old mice were readily induced by IF to exhibit activities, and the induced NK cells were Nk-1+. We have thus established Nk-1.1 antigen as an early hemopoietic differentiation antigen. Splenic Nk-1- cells could be induce by IF to become NK-1+ cells, which could be inactive or active in NK assays, dependent on the age of the mice.
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002452:Cell Count; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007372:Interferons / Q000494:pharmacology; D007519:Isoantigens; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010641:Phenotype; D011247:Pregnancy; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
D007519:Isoantigens; D007372:Interferons