title: Differential requirements for the Ets transcription factor Elf-1 in the development of NKT cells and NK cells.
abstract: E26 Transformation specific (Ets) family transcription factors control the expression of a large number of genes regulating hematopoietic cell development and function. Two such transcription factors, Ets-1 and myeloid Elf-1-like factor (MEF), have been shown to play critical roles in both natural killer (NK)- and NKT-cell development, but not in the development of conventional T cells. In this study, we address the role of E74-like factor 1 (Elf-1), another Ets family transcription factor that is closely related to MEF but divergent from Ets-1, in NK- and NKT-cell development using Elf-1-deficient (Elf-1(-/-)) mice. Whereas the proportion of NK cells in Elf-1(-/-) mice was normal, the proportion of NKT cells was significantly reduced in the thymus and periphery of Elf-1(-/-) mice compared with wild-type (WT) mice. Although Ets-1-deficient mice lack NKT cells altogether, Elf-1(-/-) mice exhibited only a partial block in NKT-cell development caused by a cell-intrinsic defect in the selection, survival, and maturation of NKT cells. In addition, residual NKT cells found in Elf-1(-/-) mice produced less cytokine upon antigen stimulation compared with WT NKT cells. Our data demonstrate that Elf-1 plays an important and nonredundant role in the development and function of NKT cells, but is not involved in NK-cell development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Hak-Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yanbiao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.forename: Hoonsik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Sha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Pramod Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Giri
authors.forename: Kyrie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Felio
authors.forename: Chyung-Ru
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D055610:Antigens, CD1d / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D019673:Genes, T-Cell Receptor alpha; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D020297:Mice, Congenic; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D050784:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1 / Q000276:immunology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018183:Transplantation Chimera / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D055610:Antigens, CD1d; D016207:Cytokines; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C512896:Elf1 protein, mouse; C491779:Elf4 protein, mouse; C494042:Ets1 protein, mouse; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D050784:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1; D014157:Transcription Factors