title: Migration and chemokine receptor pattern of colitis-preventing DX5+NKT cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  DX5(+)NKT cells are a subpopulation of NKT cells expressing both T cell receptor and NK cell markers that show an immune-regulating function. Transferred DX5(+)NKT cells from immune competent Balb/c mice can prevent or reduce induced colitis in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. Here, we investigated the in vivo migration of DX5(+)NKT cells and their corresponding chemokine receptor patterns.
  
  
  METHODS
  DX5(+)NKT cells were isolated from spleens of Balb/c mice and transferred into Balb/c SCID mice. After 2 and 8 days, in vivo migration was examined using in vivo microscopy. In addition, the chemokine receptor pattern was analyzed with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and the migration assay was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results show that labeled DX5(+)NKT cells were primarily detectable in mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen after transfer. After 8 days, DX5(+)NKT cells were observed in the colonic tissues, especially the appendix. FACS analysis of chemokine receptors in DX5(+)NKT cells revealed expression of CCR3, CCR6, CCR9, CXCR3, CXCR4, and CXCR6, but no CCR5, CXCR5, or the lymphoid homing receptor CCR7. Stimulation upregulated especially CCR7 expression, and chemokine receptor patterns were different between splenic and liver DX5(+)NKT cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that colitis-preventing DX5(+)NKT cells need to traffic through lymphoid organs to execute their immunological function at the site of inflammation. Furthermore, DX5(+)NKT cells express a specific chemokine receptor pattern with an upregulation of the lymphoid homing receptor CCR7 after activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, University of Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany. matthias.hornung@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hornung
authors.forename: Jens M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farkas
authors.forename: Hans J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schlitt
authors.forename: Edward K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Geissler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology*; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism; D002633:Chemotaxis; D003092:Colitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000637:transplantation; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000378:metabolism*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine