Cutting edge: the chemokine receptor CXCR3 retains invariant NK T cells in the thymus.
The current model used to define T cell export from the thymus suggests that emigrating lymphocytes seed the peripheral organs as functionally mature cells. This model holds true for the majority of T cells exported from the thymus with the exception of invariant NK T (iNKT) cells. iNKT cells undergo lineage expansion after positive selection and acquire NK receptor expression once fully mature; yet, the majority of mature iNKT cells are retained in the thymus by an as of yet unidentified mechanism. In this study we demonstrate that mature iNKT cells are retained in the thymus by the chemokine receptor CXCR3. We propose that the expression of CXCR3 ligands in the thymic medullary epithelium promotes the chemotactic retention of mature iNKT thymocytes and prevents leakage of iNKT cells into the peripheral circulation.
Drennan
Michael B
MB
Department of Rheumatology, Laboratory for Molecular Immunology and Inflammation, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Franki
Ann-Sophie
AS
Dewint
Pieter
P
Van Beneden
Katrien
K
Seeuws
Sylvie
S
van de Pavert
Serge A
SA
Reilly
Emma C
EC
Verbruggen
Gust
G
Lane
Thomas E
TE
Mebius
Reina E
RE
Deforce
Dieter
D
Elewaut
Dirk
D
D000818:Animals; D000950:Antigens, Ly / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000276:immunology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B / Q000096:biosynthesis; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology
D000950:Antigens, Ly; C515188:Cxcr3 protein, mouse; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; C527211:Klrb1c protein, mouse; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3