The BTB-zinc finger transcriptional regulator PLZF controls the development of invariant natural killer T cell effector functions.
Invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT cells) have an innate immunity-like rapidity of response and the ability to modulate the effector functions of other cells. We show here that iNKT cells specifically expressed the BTB-zinc finger transcriptional regulator PLZF. In the absence of PLZF, iNKT cells developed, but they lacked many features of innate T cells. PLZF-deficient iNKT cells accumulated in lymph nodes rather than in the liver, did not express NK markers and did not have the characteristic activated phenotype. PLZF-deficient iNKT cells failed to secrete large amounts of interleukin 4 and interferon-gamma after activation; however, some cells produced either interleukin 4 or interferon-gamma but not both. PLZF, therefore, is an iNKT cell-specific transcription factor that is necessary for full functionality.
Kovalovsky
Damian
D
Immunology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.
Uche
Olisambu U
OU
Eladad
Sonia
S
Hobbs
Robin M
RM
Yi
Woelsung
W
Alonzo
Eric
E
Chua
Kevin
K
Eidson
Maggie
M
Kim
Hye-Jung
HJ
Im
Jin S
JS
Pandolfi
Pier Paolo
PP
Sant'Angelo
Derek B
DB
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D000075722:Promyelocytic Leukemia Zinc Finger Protein; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D000075722:Promyelocytic Leukemia Zinc Finger Protein; D014157:Transcription Factors; C092037:ZBTB16 protein, human; D015847:Interleukin-4