NKG2D ligation without T cell receptor engagement triggers both cytotoxicity and cytokine production in dendritic epidermal T cells.
NKG2D is an activating receptor that recognizes self-ligands induced on stressed, infected, or transformed cells. In mice, two NKG2D isoforms (NKG2D-S (short) and NKG2D-L (long)) that associate differentially with DAP10 and DAP12 adaptor proteins exist. Differential expression of these isoforms and adaptor proteins depending on the activating state and cell types determines distinct functional outcomes of NKG2D ligation: direct activation of cytotoxicity in natural killer (NK) cells and cytokine production in activated NK cells, but only costimulation in activated CD8+ T cells. Intraepithelial gammadelta T cells of the mouse skin, termed dendritic epidermal T cells (DETCs), were also shown to express NKG2D, but the NKG2D isoform(s) expressed in DETCs have not been determined. Furthermore, functional outcomes of NKG2D ligation in DETCs are largely unknown, although costimulation of DETC-mediated cytotoxicity by NKG2D was demonstrated. Here, we show that DETCs constitutively express NKG2D-S, NKG2D-L, DAP10, and DAP12 transcripts as well as cell surface NKG2D protein. Blocking of NKG2D inhibited DETC-mediated cytotoxicity against target cells that do not express T cell receptor ligands. Cross-linking of NKG2D on DETCs induced IFN-gamma production. These findings demonstrate that DETCs constitutively express NKG2D that acts as a primary activating receptor, and indicate its important role in cutaneous immune surveillance.
Division of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Niigata 9512-8510, Japan.
Ayano
A
Nitahara
Hideki
H
Shimura
Akiko
A
Ito
Katschiro
K
Tomiyama
Masaaki
M
Ito
Kazuhiro
K
Kawai
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000502:physiology*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D016207:Cytokines; C120528:HCST protein, human; C527086:Klrk1 protein, mouse; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell; C110546:TYROBP protein, human