title: KLF13 sustains thymic memory-like CD8(+) T cells in BALB/c mice by regulating IL-4-generating invariant natural killer T cells.
abstract: "Memory-like T cells" are a subset of thymic cells that acquire effector function through the maturation process rather than interaction with specific antigen. Disruption of genes encoding T cell signaling proteins or transcription factors have provided insights into the differentiation of such cells. In this study, we show that in BALB/c, but not C57BL/6, mice, a large portion of thymic CD4(-)CD8(+) T cells exhibit a memory-like phenotype. In BALB/c mice, IL-4 secreted by invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells is both essential and sufficient for the generation of memory-like T cells. In C57BL/6 mice, iNKT cells are less abundant, producing IL-4 that is insufficient to induce thymic memory-like CD8(+) T cells. BALB/c mice deficient in the transcription factor Kruppel-like factor (KLF) 13 have comparable numbers of iNKT cells to C57BL/6 mice and extremely low levels of thymic memory-like CD8(+) T cells. This work documents the impact of a small number of KLF13-dependent iNKT cells on the generation of memory-like CD8(+) T cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Dazhi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Jinfang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Tianhong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu-Li
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Terabe
authors.forename: Jay A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Berzofsky
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clayberger
authors.forename: Alan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Krensky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; C486422:Klf13 protein, mouse; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D015847:Interleukin-4