Identification of CD4(-)CD8(-) double-negative natural killer T cell precursors in the thymus.

ABSTRACT:

Background

It is well known that CD1d-restricted Valpha14 invariant natural killer T (NKT) cells are derived from cells in the CD4(+)CD8(+) double-positive (DP) population in the thymus. However, the developmental progression of NKT cells in the earlier stages remains unclear, and the possible existence of NKT cell presursors in the earlier stages than DP stage remains to be tested.

Principal findings

Here, we demonstrate that NKT cell precursors that express invariant Valpha14-Jalpha18 transcripts but devoid of surface expression of the invariant Valpha14 receptor are present in the late CD4(-)CD8(-) double-negative (DN)4 stage and have the potential to generate mature NKT cells in both in vivo and in vitro experimental conditions. Moreover, the DN4 population in CD1d knock

SUBMITTER: Dashtsoodol N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2577011 | biostudies-literature | 2008

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature