title: Developmentally regulated extinction of Ly-49 receptor expression permits maturation and selection of NK1.1+ T cells.
abstract: Clonally distributed inhibitory receptors negatively regulate natural killer (NK) cell function via specific interactions with allelic forms of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. In the mouse, the Ly-49 family of inhibitory receptors is found not only on NK cells but also on a minor (NK1.1+) T cell subset. Using Ly-49 transgenic mice, we show here that the development of NK1.1+ T cells, in contrast to NK or conventional T cells, is impaired when their Ly-49 receptors engage self-MHC class I molecules. Impaired NK1.1+ T cell development in transgenic mice is associated with a failure to select the appropriate CD1-reactive T cell receptor repertoire. In normal mice, NK1.1+ T cell maturation is accompanied by extinction of Ly-49 receptor expression. Collectively, our data imply that developmentally regulated extinction of inhibitory MHC-specific receptors is required for normal NK1.1+ T cell maturation and selection.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland. hughrobson.macdonald@isrec.unil.ch
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Robson MacDonald
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Lees
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Held
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D055630:Receptors, NK Cell Lectin-Like; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D000954:Antigens, Surface; C527211:Klrb1c protein, mouse; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D011506:Proteins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D055630:Receptors, NK Cell Lectin-Like