| First Author | Taniguchi M | Year | 1996 |
| Journal | Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A | Volume | 93 |
| Issue | 20 | Pages | 11025-8 |
| PubMed ID | 8855302 | Mgi Jnum | J:131255 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3773402 | Doi | 10.1073/pnas.93.20.11025 |
| Citation | Taniguchi M, et al. (1996) Essential requirement of an invariant V alpha 14 T cell antigen receptor expression in the development of natural killer T cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 93(20):11025-8 |
| abstractText | NK1.1+ T [natural killer (NK) T] cells express an invariant T cell antigen receptor alpha chain (TCR alpha) encoded by V alpha 14 and J alpha 281 segments in association with a limited number of V betas, predominantly V beta 8.2. Expression of the invariant V alpha 14/J alpha 281, but not V alpha 1, TCR in transgenic mice lacking endogenous TCR alpha expression blocks the development of conventional T alpha beta cells and leads to the preferential development of V alpha 14 NK T cells, suggesting a prerequisite role of invariant V alpha 14 TCR in NK T cell development. In V beta 8.2 but not B beta 3 transgenic mice, two NK T cells with different CD3 epsilon expressions, CD3 epsilon(dim) and CD3 epsilon(high), can be identified. CD3 epsilon(high) NK T cells express surface V alpha 14/V beta 8 TCR, indicating a mature cell type, whereas CD3 epsilon(dim) NK T cells express V beta 8 without V alpha 14 TCR and no significant CD3 epsilon expression (CD3 epsilon(dim)) on the cell surface. However, the latter are positive for recombination activating gene (RAG-1 and RAG-2) mRNA, which are only expressed in the precursor or immature T cell lineage, and also possess CD3 epsilon mRNA in their cytoplasm, suggesting that CD3 epsilon(dim) NK T cells are the precursor of V alpha 14 NK T cells. |
