Age-dependent appearance of NK1.1+ T cells in the livers of beta2-microglobulin knockout and SJL mice.
NK1.1+ T cells, a specialized set of T cells that recognize CD1, are reportedly absent in young beta2-microglobulin-deficient (beta2m-knockout (KO)) and SJL mice. In this study, we show that a significant number of NK1.1+ T cells exist in the livers of older beta2m-KO and SJL mice, and that the number of liver NK1.1+ T cells increases as the animals age. The surface phenotypes of liver NK1.1+ T cells from beta2m-KO and SJL mice were similar to NK1.1+ T cells from C57BL/6 mice, except that the bulk of these cells were CD4- CD8-. After anti-CD3 injection in vivo, the cells promptly expressed IL-4 mRNA just as NK1.1+ T cells did in normal mice. Using L cells expressing CD1, liver NK1.1+ T cells from both beta2m-KO and SJL mice were stimulated to proliferate, although to a lesser degree than were such cells from C57BL/6 mice. Our studies show that some NK1.1+ T cells accumulate in the livers of older beta2m-KO and SJL mice, and that they appear to have functional properties similar to "normal" NK1.1+ T cells.
Murakami
M
M
Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1892, USA.
Paul
W E
WE
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D018949:Antigens, CD1 / Q000502:physiology; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D000941:Antigens; D018949:Antigens, CD1; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D000954:Antigens, Surface; C527211:Klrb1c protein, mouse; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D011506:Proteins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D015847:Interleukin-4