Eberl G, Lees R, Smiley S T, Taniguchi M, Grusby M J, MacDonald H R
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.
J Immunol. 1999 Jun 1;162(11):6410-9.
NKT cells, defined as T cells expressing the NK cell marker NK1.1, are involved in tumor rejection and regulation of autoimmunity via the production of cytokines. We show in this study that two types of NKT cells can be defined on the basis of their reactivity to the monomorphic MHC class I-like molecule CD1d. One type of NKT cell is positively selected by CD1d and expresses a biased TCR repertoire together with a phenotype found on activated T cells. A second type of NKT cell, in contrast, develops in the absence of CD1d, and expresses a diverse TCR repertoire and a phenotype found on naive T cells and NK cells. Importantly, the two types of NKT cells segregate in distinct tissues. Whereas thymus and liver contain primarily CD1d-dependent NKT cells, spleen and bone marrow are enriched in CD1d-independent NKT cells. Collectively, our data suggest that recognition of tissue-specific ligands by the TCR controls localization and activation of NKT cells.
自然杀伤T细胞（NKT细胞）被定义为表达自然杀伤细胞标志物NK1.1的T细胞，通过产生细胞因子参与肿瘤排斥反应和自身免疫调节。我们在本研究中表明，根据对单态性MHC I类样分子CD1d的反应性，可以定义两种类型的NKT细胞。一种类型的NKT细胞由CD1d阳性选择，表达偏向性的T细胞受体库以及在活化T细胞上发现的表型。相比之下，第二种类型的NKT细胞在没有CD1d的情况下发育，表达多样化的T细胞受体库以及在幼稚T细胞和自然杀伤细胞上发现的表型。重要的是，这两种类型的NKT细胞在不同组织中分离。胸腺和肝脏主要含有依赖CD1d的NKT细胞，而脾脏和骨髓中富含不依赖CD1d的NKT细胞。总体而言，我们的数据表明，T细胞受体对组织特异性配体的识别控制着NKT细胞的定位和激活。
