title: Clonal characterization of a bipotent T cell and NK cell progenitor in the mouse fetal thymus.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Michie
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Carlyle
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ljutic
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zúñiga-Pflücker
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: 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