Peptide-adaptive NK cell memory in the absence of functional TCR genes.

ABSTRACT: Natural killer (NK) cells are a key component of the innate immune system and are specialized in the recognition and elimination of virally infected, tumor, and otherwise abnormal cells. However, multiple laboratories have shown that NK cells display exquisite MHC-I-dependent memory toward haptens, complex proteins, and peptides in mice lacking RAG proteins, which are devoid of both T cells and B cells but still have intact TCR genes, in addition to abnormal NK cell expansion and activation. Here, we show that the fine antigen specificity of memory NK cells persists in the absence of functional TCR genes. The ability of NK cells to mediate adaptive responses was evaluated using contact hypersensitivity (CHS) responses to chemical haptens and peptides in TCR-β-/-δ-/- mice. Peptide specifici

SUBMITTER: Bryan S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12836415 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature