title: CD1d-restricted NKT cells: an interstrain comparison.
abstract: CD1d-restricted Valpha14-Jalpha281 invariant alphabetaTCR(+) (NKT) cells are well defined in the C57BL/6 mouse strain, but they remain poorly characterized in non-NK1.1-expressing strains. Surrogate markers for NKT cells such as alphabetaTCR(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) and DX5(+)CD3(+) have been used in many studies, although their effectiveness in defining this lineage remains to be verified. Here, we compare NKT cells among C57BL/6, NK1.1-congenic BALB/c, and NK1.1-congenic nonobese diabetic mice. NKT cells were identified and compared using a range of approaches: NK1.1 expression, surrogate phenotypes used in previous studies, labeling with CD1d/alpha-galactosylceramide tetramers, and cytokine production. Our results demonstrate that NKT cells and their CD4/CD8-defined subsets are present in all three strains, and confirm that nonobese diabetic mice have a numerical and functional deficiency in these cells. We also highlight the hazards of using surrogate phenotypes, none of which accurately identify NKT cells, and one in particular (DX5(+)CD3(+)) actually excludes these cells. Finally, our results support the concept that NK1.1 expression may not be an ideal marker for CD1d-restricted NKT cells, many of which are NK1.1-negative, especially within the CD4(+) subset and particularly in NK1.1-congenic BALB/c mice.
authors.affiliation: Department Pathology and Immunology, Monash University, Commercial Road, Prahran, Melbourne, VIC 3181, Australia.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Pellicci
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Poulton
authors.forename: O V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Naidenko
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Scalzo
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Baxter
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Godfrey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018949:Antigens, CD1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D055610:Antigens, CD1d; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000276:immunology; D051927:CD24 Antigen; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005699:Galactosylceramides / Q000378:metabolism; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D020297:Mice, Congenic; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D055630:Receptors, NK Cell Lectin-Like; D013045:Species Specificity; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018949:Antigens, CD1; D055610:Antigens, CD1d; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D051927:CD24 Antigen; D017252:CD3 Complex; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C497890:Cd24a protein, mouse; D016207:Cytokines; D005699:Galactosylceramides; C527211:Klrb1c protein, mouse; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D011506:Proteins; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D055630:Receptors, NK Cell Lectin-Like; D019041:L-Selectin