Anti-STAT6 CTL activity in Stat6 (-/-) mice: A cautionary tale.
The generation of germline gene mutations in mice has been an invaluable tool for experimental biology. However, studying immune responses that develop in the absence of a specific protein that could alter thymic selection complicates experimental interpretations. We observed that CD8(+) T cells from Stat6 (-/-) mice displayed "autoreactivity" to STAT6-expressing cells, associated with specific STAT6 peptides binding to MHC class I molecules. These results suggest caution in interpreting experiments where STAT6-expressing cells are transferred into Stat6 (-/-) mice, or where adoptive transfer of Stat6 (-/-) lymphocytes is performed. Our results further highlight additional considerations when studying immune responses involving cell transfer into gene-deficient mice.
Departments of Pediatrics and Microbiology and Immunology; Indiana University School of Medicine; Indianapolis, IN USA.
Mark H
MH
Kaplan
Judy K
JK
Cundiff
Jill Stader
JS
Smith
Carla J
CJ
Aldrich
MHC class I; STAT6; autoreactivity; chromium release; cytotoxic T cell