Phenotypic characterization of CD8(+)NKT cells.
We describe a novel CD8(+)NKT cell population expressing TCRalpha /beta or TCRgamma /delta. These CD8(+)NKT cells were prominent in the liver, and except for the thymus, virtually absent in other lymphoid organs. CD8(+)NKT cells expressed activation markers and comprised a high proportion of Ly49(+) cells. The development of the majority of CD8(+)NKT cells expressing TCRalpha /beta, but not TCRgamma /delta, depended on classical MHC class I. No CD8(+)NKT cells were detectable in young athymic mice, whereas the cells expressing TCRgamma /delta, but not TCRalpha /beta, appeared randomly in aged athymic mice. CD8(+)NK1(+) TCRalpha /beta cells showed polyclonal TCRVbeta usage and were virtually devoid of TCRValpha14. CD8(+)NK1(+) TCRgamma /delta cells predominantly expressed TCRVgamma1, 2 and 4, and Vdelta4, 5, 6 and 7. CD8(+)NKT cells, in particular those expressing TCRgamma /delta, were a major population in early life. IFN-gamma, but not IL-4, was induced in CD8(+)NKT cells by in vitro stimulation, independent of the TCRalpha /beta or TCRgamma /delta lineage. Hence, these cells represent a unique, though heterogeneous T cell population that shares markers with, but is distinct from, both conventional NKT cells and conventional CD8(+) T cells, and that may play a role in immune regulation.
Department of Immunology, Max-Planck-Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany.
M
M
Emoto
J
J
Zerrahn
M
M
Miyamoto
B
B
Pérarnau
S H
SH
Kaufmann
D000818:Animals; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000502:physiology; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000502:physiology
D016827:CD8 Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma