| First Author | Huntington ND | Year | 2007 |
| Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 178 |
| Issue | 8 | Pages | 4764-70 |
| PubMed ID | 17404256 | Mgi Jnum | J:145204 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3833815 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.178.8.4764 |
| Citation | Huntington ND, et al. (2007) NK cell maturation and peripheral homeostasis is associated with KLRG1 up-regulation. J Immunol 178(8):4764-70 |
| abstractText | NK cells are important for the clearance of tumors, parasites, and virus-infected cells. Thus, factors that control NK cell numbers and function are critical for the innate immune response. A subset of NK cells express the inhibitory killer cell lectin-like receptor G1 (KLRG1). In this study, we identify that KLRG1 expression is acquired during periods of NK cell division such as development and homeostatic proliferation. KLRG1(+) NK cells are mature in phenotype, and we show for the first time that these cells have a slower in vivo turnover rate, reduced proliferative response to IL-15, and poorer homeostatic expansion potential compared with mature NK cells lacking KLRG1. Transfer into lymphopenic recipients indicate that KLRG1(-) NK cells are precursors of KLRG1(+) NK cells and KLRG1 expression accumulates following cell division. Furthermore, KLRG1(+) NK cells represent a significantly greater proportion of NK cells in mice with enhanced NK cell numbers such as Cd45(-/-) mice. These data indicate that NK cells acquire KLRG1 on their surface during development, and this expression correlates with functional distinctions from other peripheral NK cells in vivo. |
