CD8+ T cells rapidly acquire NK1.1 and NK cell-associated molecules upon stimulation in vitro and in vivo

J Immunol. 2000 Oct 1;165(7):3673-9. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.165.7.3673.

Abstract

NKT cells express both NK cell-associated markers and TCR. Classically, these NK1.1+TCRalphabeta+ cells have been described as being either CD4+CD8- or CD4-CD8-. Most NKT cells interact with the nonclassical MHC class I molecule CD1 through a largely invariant Valpha14-Jalpha281 TCR chain in conjunction with either a Vbeta2, -7, or -8 TCR chain. In the present study, we describe the presence of significant numbers of NK1.1+TCRalphabeta+ cells within lymphokine-activated killer cell cultures from wild-type C57BL/6, CD1d1-/-, and Jalpha281-/- mice that lack classical NKT cells. Unlike classical NKT cells, 50-60% of these NK1.1+TCRalphabeta+ cells express CD8 and have a diverse TCR Vbeta repertoire. Purified NK1.1-CD8alpha+ T cells from the spleens of B6 mice, upon stimulation with IL-2, IL-4, or IL-15 in vitro, rapidly acquire surface expression of NK1.1. Many NK1.1+CD8+ T cells had also acquired expression of Ly-49 receptors and other NK cell-associated molecules. The acquisition of NK1.1 expression on CD8+ T cells was a particular property of the IL-2Rbeta+ subpopulation of the CD8+ T cells. Efficient NK1.1 expression on CD8+ T cells required Lck but not Fyn. The induction of NK1.1 on CD8+ T cells was not just an in vitro phenomenon as we observed a 5-fold increase of NK1.1+CD8+ T cells in the lungs of influenza virus-infected mice. These data suggest that CD8+ T cells can acquire NK1.1 and other NK cell-associated molecules upon appropriate stimulation in vitro and in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens / biosynthesis*
  • Antigens, Ly / biosynthesis
  • Antigens, Surface
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / enzymology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytokines / pharmacology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic
  • Influenza A virus / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / metabolism
  • Kinetics
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Lymphocyte Activation* / genetics
  • Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck) / deficiency
  • Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck) / genetics
  • Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck) / physiology
  • Lymphopenia / genetics
  • Lymphopenia / immunology
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / biosynthesis
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / immunology
  • Protein Biosynthesis*
  • Proteins*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / deficiency
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, NK Cell Lectin-Like
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / immunology
  • Stem Cells / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / cytology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / enzymology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism*
  • Up-Regulation / genetics
  • Up-Regulation / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Antigens, Ly
  • Antigens, Surface
  • Cytokines
  • Klrb1c protein, mouse
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B
  • Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2
  • Receptors, NK Cell Lectin-Like
  • Fyn protein, mouse
  • Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck)
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn