title: Cutting edge: NKT cell development is selectively impaired in Fyn- deficient mice.
abstract: Most NK1.1+ T (NKT) cells express a biased TCRalphabeta repertoire that is positively selected by the monomorphic MHC class I-like molecule CD1d. The development of CD1d-dependent NKT cells is thymus dependent but, in contrast to conventional T cells, requires positive selection by cells of hemopoietic origin. Here, we show that the Src protein tyrosine kinase Fyn is required for development of CD1d-dependent NKT cells but not for the development of conventional T cells. In contrast, another Src kinase, Lck, is required for the development of both NKT and T cells. Impaired NKT cell development in Fyn-deficient mice cannot be rescued by transgenic expression of CD8, which is believed to increase the avidity of CD1d recognition by NKT cells. Taken together, our data reveal a selective and nonredundant role for Fyn in NKT cell development.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland. geberl@eliot.unil.ch
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eberl
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lowin-Kropf
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: MacDonald
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics*; D051076:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015704:CD4 Antigens; C067361:CD8 receptor; C527211:Klrb1c protein, mouse; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D011506:Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; C494960:Fyn protein, mouse; D051076:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn