title: Age-associated rapid and Stat6-independent IL-4 production by NK1-CD4+8- thymus T lymphocytes.
abstract: The source of IL-4 required for priming naive T cells into IL-4-secreting effectors has not been clearly identified. Here we show that upon TCR stimulation, thymus NK1-CD4+8- T cells produced IL-4, the magnitude of which was inversely correlated with age. This IL-4 production response by Th2-prone BALB/c mice was approximately 9-fold that of Th1-prone C57BL/10 mice. More than 90% of activated NK1-CD4+8- thymocytes did not use the invariant V alpha 14-J alpha 281 chain characteristic of typical CD1-restricted NK1+CD4+ T cells. Stat6-null NK1-CD4+8- thymocytes produced bioactive IL-4, with induction of IL-4 mRNA expression within 1 h of stimulation. Our results support the possibility that TCR repertoire-diverse conventional NK1-CD4+ T cells are a potential IL-4 source for directing naive T cells toward Th2/type 2 CD8+ T cell (Tc2) effector development.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Kung
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D051927:CD24 Antigen; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015332:Gene Rearrangement, alpha-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D051927:CD24 Antigen; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; C497890:Cd24a protein, mouse; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D011506:Proteins; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494100:Stat6 protein, mouse; D015534:Trans-Activators; D015847:Interleukin-4