title: Germ-line and rearranged Tcrd transcription distinguish bona fide NK cells and NK-like gammadelta T cells.
abstract: NK cells and gammadelta T cells are distinct subsets of lymphocytes that contextually share multiple phenotypic and functional characteristics. However, the acquisition and the extent of these similarities remain poorly understood. Here, using T cell receptor delta locus-histone 2B-enhanced GFP (Tcrd-H2BEGFP) reporter mice, we show that germ-line transcription of Tcrd occurs in all maturing NK cells. We also describe a population of mouse NK-like cells that are indistinguishable from "bona fide" NK cells using standard protocols. Requirements for V(D)J recombination and a functional thymus, along with very low-level expression of surface TCRgammadelta but high intracellular CD3, define these cells as gammadelta T cells. "NK-like gammadelta T cells" are CD127+, have a memory-activated phenotype, express multiple NK cell receptors and readily produce interferon-gamma in response to IL-12/IL-18 stimulation. The close phenotypic resemblance between NK cells and NK-like gammadelta T cells is a source of experimental ambiguity in studies bridging NK and T cell biology, such as those on thymic NK cell development. Instead, it ascribes chronic TCRgammadelta engagement as a means of acquiring NK-like function.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Université de la Méditerranée, and Service d'Immunologie, Hôpital de Conception, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, France. stewartch@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Walzer
authors.forename: Scott H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Malissen
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vivier
authors.forename: Immo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Prinz
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D016694:Gene Rearrangement, delta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D039421:Integrin alpha2 / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D053646:Interleukin-2 Receptor beta Subunit / Q000032:analysis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000378:metabolism; D052118:Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D017252:CD3 Complex; C485468:Cd3e protein, mouse; D016207:Cytokines; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D006657:Histones; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C508022:Il2rb protein, mouse; D039421:Integrin alpha2; D053646:Interleukin-2 Receptor beta Subunit; C491734:Lat protein, mouse; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D052118:Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 1; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; C090140:Whn protein; C064658:RAG-1 protein; D007371:Interferon-gamma