Clonal characterization of a bipotent T cell and NK cell progenitor in the mouse fetal thymus.
We recently described a population of fetal thymocytes with a CD117+NK1.1+CD90lowCD25- phenotype, which were shown to contain committed T cell and NK cell progenitors. However, the characterization of a single cell with a restricted T and NK cell precursor potential was lacking. Here, using an in vitro model for T and NK cell differentiation, we provide conclusive evidence demonstrating the existence of a clonal lineage-restricted T and NK cell progenitor. These results establish that fetal thymocytes with a CD117+NK1.1+CD90lowCD25- phenotype represent bipotent T and NK cell progenitors.
Michie
A M
AM
Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Carlyle
J R
JR
Schmitt
T M
TM
Ljutic
B
B
Cho
S K
SK
Fong
Q
Q
Zúñiga-Pflücker
J C
JC
D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000276:immunology; D002999:Clone Cells; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000276:immunology*
D000941:Antigens; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D000954:Antigens, Surface; C527211:Klrb1c protein, mouse; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D011506:Proteins; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit