title: [Differences between CD3⁺ TCRvα24⁺ NKT cell and CD3⁺ TCRvβ11⁺ NKT cell in PBMC].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clarified the differences between CD3(+);TCRvα24(+); NKT cells and CD3(+);TCRvβ11(+); NKT cells in their frequencies, subpopulations, phenotypes and biological functions, so as to fully understand the effects of NKT cells in immune responses.
  
  
  METHODS
  PBMCs from blood donors were isolated and cell surface markers (CD3, TCRvα24, TCRvβ11, CD4, CD8, CD45RA, CD62L, CCR7) and intracellular cytokines (IL-4, IFN-γ) were detected by flow cytometry directly or after stimulation with PMA plus Ionomycin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean frequencies of CD3(+);TCRvα24(+); NKT cells and CD3(+);TCRvβ11(+); NKT cells in PBMCs were 0.63% and 0.43% and they varied according to individuals. A small population of NKT cells coexpressed TCRvα24 and TCRvβ11. The subpopulations of CD4(+); NKT 64.35%, CD8(+); NKT 19.04%, CD4(-);CD8(-); NKT 17.18% in human CD3(+);TCRvα24(+); NKT cells and CD4(+); NKT 53.69%, CD8(+); NKT 18.99%, CD4(-);CD8(-); NKT 29.74% in CD3(+);TCRvβ11(+); NKT cells could be identified based upon the expressions of CD4 and CD8 molecules. There were no significant differences between relative subtypes. The frequency of CD45RA(+);CD3(+);TCRvβ11(+); NKT cells(71.14%) was higher than the frequency of CD45RA(+);CD3(+);TCRvα24(+); NKT cells and the differences between them were significant. The differences between the frequencies of CD62L(+);CD3(+);TCRvα24(+); NKT cells(46.26%) and CD62L(+);CD3(+);TCRvβ11(+); NKT cells(42.36%), the frequencies of CCR7(+);CD3(+);TCRvα24(+); NKT cells(9.24%) and CCR7(+);CD3(+);TCRvβ11(+); NKT cells(8.22%) were not significant. There were no significant differences in the secretions of IL-4 by CD3(+);TCRvα24(+); NKT cells(13.01%) and CD3(+);TCRvβ11(+); NKT cells(6.62%), and IFN-γ by CD3(+);TCRvα24(+); NKT cells(38.12%) and CD3(+);TCRvβ11(+); NKT cells(26.95%). However, there were significant differences between the mean frequency of IFN-γ(+);IL-4(+);CD3(+);TCRvα24(+); NKT cells(12.65%) and that of IFN-γ(+);IL-4(+);CD3(+);TCRvβ11(+); NKT cells(3.02%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were some differences between CD3(+);TCRvα24(+); NKT cells and CD3(+);TCRvβ11(+); NKT cells in their frequencies, phenotypes and productions of cytokines. In all, although their frequencies were low, the complicated phenotypes and high secretions of cytokines(IL-4 and IFN-γ) assigned NKT cells immunoregulatory effects.
authors: Institute of Immunology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, State Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control Research, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors: Zi-Tao
authors: ZT
authors: Li
authors: Bin-Yan
authors: BY
authors: Yang
authors: Chang-You
authors: CY
authors: Wu
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D017260:Receptor-CD3 Complex, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D017260:Receptor-CD3 Complex, Antigen, T-Cell; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma