An in vitro model of innate lymphoid cell function and differentiation

Mucosal Immunol. 2015 Mar;8(2):340-51. doi: 10.1038/mi.2014.71. Epub 2014 Aug 20.

Abstract

Innate lymphoid cells (ILC) are RAG-independent lymphocytes with important roles in innate immunity, and include group-1 (natural killer (NK) cell, ILC1), group-2 (ILC2), and group-3 (lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi), NCR(+) ILC3) subsets. Group-3 ILC express Rorγt, produce interleukin (IL)-22, and are critically important in the normal function of mucosal tissues. Here, we describe a novel model cell line for the study of ILC function and differentiation. The parental MNK cell line, derived from NKR-P1B(+) fetal thymocytes, shows a capacity to differentiate in γc cytokines. One IL-7-responsive subline, designated MNK-3, expresses Rorγt and produces high levels of IL-22 in response to IL-23 and IL-1β stimulation. MNK-3 cells display surface markers and transcript expression characteristic of group-3 ILC, including IL-7Rα (CD127), c-kit (CD117), CCR6, Thy1 (CD90), RANK, RANKL, and lymphotoxin (LTα1β2). Using an in vitro assay of LTi cell activity, MNK-3 cells induce ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression on stromal cells in a manner dependent upon LTα1β2 expression. A second IL-2-responsive subline, MNK-1, expresses several NK cell receptors, perforin and granzymes, and shows some cytotoxic activity. Thus, MNK-1 cells serve as a model of ILC1/NK development and differentiation, whereas MNK-3 cells provide an attractive in vitro system to study the function of ILC3/LTi cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Surface / genetics
  • Antigens, Surface / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology*
  • Cell Lineage
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / cytology
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / genetics
  • Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Receptors, Natural Killer Cell / genetics
  • Receptors, Natural Killer Cell / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, Surface
  • Cytokines
  • Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3
  • Receptors, Natural Killer Cell