| First Author | Sharma A | Year | 2013 |
| Journal | PLoS One | Volume | 8 |
| Issue | 8 | Pages | e71872 |
| PubMed ID | 23990998 | Mgi Jnum | J:205960 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5547472 | Doi | 10.1371/journal.pone.0071872 |
| Citation | Sharma A, et al. (2013) IL-4 and IL-4 receptor expression is dispensable for the development and function of natural killer T cells. PLoS One 8(8):e71872 |
| abstractText | CD4 T cells acquire functional properties including cytokine production upon antigenic stimulation through the T cell receptor (TCR) and differentiate into T helper (Th) cells. Th1 cells produce interferon (IFN)-gamma and Th2 cells produce interleukin (IL)-4. Th1 and 2 cells utilize IFN-gamma and IL-4 for further maturation and maintenance, respectively. Promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF)-expressing invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells develop in the thymus and acquire functional ability to produce IL-4 and IFN-gamma in the thymus in the absence of antigenic stimulation. In response to antigenic stimulation, iNKT cells rapidly produce IFN-gamma and IL-4. However, it is still unknown as to whether iNKT cells require these cytokines for maturation or survival in vivo. In this study, using IL-4- and IL-4 receptor- (IL-4R) deficient mice, we demonstrate that IL-4 as well as IL-4R expression is dispensable for the development, function and maintenance of iNKT cells. |
