Functional and phenotypical characteristics of hepatic NK-like T cells in NK1.1-positive and -negative mouse strains.
We previously reported and partially characterized a unique monoclonal antibody (mAb), U5A2-13, which recognizes a T cell subset similar to NK1.1+ T cells, not only in NK1.1-positive mouse strains but also in NK1.1-negative strains. In NK1.1-positive C57BL/6 mice, U5A2-13+ TCRalphabeta+ cells produced abundant IL-4 as well as extremely high levels of IFN-gamma upon CD3 cross-linking, but this did not occur with U5A2-13- TCRalphabeta+ cells. In NK1.1-negative C3H/He mice, U5A2-13+ TCRalphabeta+ cells produced high levels of IL-4 and IFN-gamma upon CD3 cross-linking, but this was not observed with U5A2-13- TCRalphabeta+ cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first direct evidence of the presence of NK-like T cells defined phenotypically by U5A2-13 mAb and functionally by IL-4/IFN-gamma production in NK1.1-negative mouse strains. We also demonstrated that U5A2-13- NK1.1+ T cells and U5A2-13+ NK1.1- T cells in C57BL/6 mice could produce both IL-4 and IFN-gamma. In addition, Vbeta8 or Vbeta7 usage by U5A2-13+ NK1.1- T cells was lower than that by U5A2-13+ NK1.1+ T cells, but remained higher than that by U5A2-13- NK1.1- T cells. Based on the present results, U5A2-13 mAb appears to be a valuable tool in the study of NK-like T cells.
Shinohara
K
K
Pharmacology Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
Ikarashi
Y
Y
Maruoka
H
H
Miyata
M
M
Sugimura
T
T
Terada
M
M
Wakasugi
H
H
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010641:Phenotype; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma