title: Regulated Expression of miR-155 is Required for iNKT Cell Development.
abstract: Invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT cells) are CD1d-restricted, lipid antigen-reactive T lymphocytes with immunoregulatory functions. iNKT cell development in the thymus proceeds through subsequent stages, defined by the expression of CD44 and NK1.1, and is dictated by a unique gene expression program, including microRNAs. Here, we investigated whether miR-155, a microRNA involved in differentiation of most hematopoietic cells, played any role in iNKT cell development. To this end, we assessed the expression of miR-155 along iNKT cell maturation in the thymus, and studied the effects of miR-155 on iNKT cell development using Lck-miR-155 transgenic mice, which over express miR-155 in T cell lineage under the lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase (Lck) promoter. We show that miR-155 is expressed by newly selected immature wild-type iNKT cells and turned off along iNKT cells differentiation. In transgenic mice, miR-155 over-expression resulted in a substantial block of iNKT cell maturation at Stage 2, in the thymus toward an overall reduction of peripheral iNKT cells, unlike mainstream T cells. Furthermore, the effects of miR-155 over-expression on iNKT cell differentiation were cell autonomous. Finally, we identified Ets1 and ITK transcripts as relevant targets of miR-155 in iNKT cell differentiation. Altogether, these results demonstrate that a tight control of miR-155 expression is required for the development of iNKT cells.
authors: Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS "Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori" , Milan , Italy.
authors: Alessia
authors: A
authors: Burocchi
authors: Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS "Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori" , Milan , Italy.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Pittoni
authors: Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, Wexner Medical Center and Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University , Columbus, OH , USA ; Department of Anesthesiology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University , Columbus, OH , USA.
authors: Esmerina
authors: E
authors: Tili
authors: Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS "Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori" , Milan , Italy.
authors: Alice
authors: A
authors: Rigoni
authors: Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, Wexner Medical Center and Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University , Columbus, OH , USA.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Costinean
authors: Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, Wexner Medical Center and Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University , Columbus, OH , USA.
authors: Carlo Maria
authors: CM
authors: Croce
authors: Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS "Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori" , Milan , Italy.
authors: Mario Paolo
authors: MP
authors: Colombo
keywords: gene expression regulation; iNKT cell; microRNA; thymic development; transgenic