CD1d-Restricted NKT Cells: An Interstrain Comparison

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) 2001-08, Vol.167 (3), p.1164-1173
• Main Authors: Hammond, Kirsten J. L, Pellicci, Daniel G, Poulton, Lynn D, Naidenko, Olga V, Scalzo, Anthony A, Baxter, Alan G, Godfrey, Dale I
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens - biosynthesis; Antigens, CD - biosynthesis; Antigens, CD1 - biosynthesis; Antigens, CD1 - genetics; Antigens, CD1 - metabolism; Antigens, CD1d; Antigens, Ly; Antigens, Surface; Binding Sites - immunology; Carrier Proteins - biosynthesis; CD1d antigen; CD24 Antigen; CD3 Complex - biosynthesis; CD8 Antigens - biosynthesis; Cytokines - biosynthesis; Galactosylceramides - metabolism; Immunophenotyping; Killer Cells, Natural - cytology; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Killer Cells, Natural - metabolism; L-Selectin - biosynthesis; Lectins, C-Type; Lymphocyte Count; Membrane Glycoproteins; Membrane Proteins - biosynthesis; Mice; Mice, Congenic; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Inbred NOD; NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; NK1.1 antigen; Organ Specificity - genetics; Organ Specificity - immunology; Protein Biosynthesis; Proteins; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta - biosynthesis; Receptors, Interleukin-2 - biosynthesis; Receptors, NK Cell Lectin-Like; Species Specificity; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - cytology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - metabolism
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.167.3.1164

CD1d-restricted Valpha14-Jalpha281 invariant alphabetaTCR(+) (NKT) cells are well defined in the C57BL/6 mouse strain, but they remain poorly characterized in non-NK1.1-expressing strains. Surrogate markers for NKT cells such as alphabetaTCR(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) and DX5(+)CD3(+) have been used in many studies, although their effectiveness in defining this lineage remains to be verified. Here, we compare NKT cells among C57BL/6, NK1.1-congenic BALB/c, and NK1.1-congenic nonobese diabetic mice. NKT cells were identified and compared using a range of approaches: NK1.1 expression, surrogate phenotypes used in previous studies, labeling with CD1d/alpha-galactosylceramide tetramers, and cytokine production. Our results demonstrate that NKT cells and their CD4/CD8-defined subsets are present in all three strains, and confirm that nonobese diabetic mice have a numerical and functional deficiency in these cells. We also highlight the hazards of using surrogate phenotypes, none of which accurately identify NKT cells, and one in particular (DX5(+)CD3(+)) actually excludes these cells. Finally, our results support the concept that NK1.1 expression may not be an ideal marker for CD1d-restricted NKT cells, many of which are NK1.1-negative, especially within the CD4(+) subset and particularly in NK1.1-congenic BALB/c mice.