Project description:We report the identification of DN NKT cells developed from DN stage thymocytes. We analyzed the gene expression profiles of NKT cells that have developed from DN stage thymocytes isolated from DP-specific E8III-Cre transgenic Rag2-floxed mouse strain, and NKT cells developed from DP thymocytes sorted as YFP-reporter positive NKT cells that were isolated from E8III-Cre transgenic Rosa26-loxP-STOP-loxP mouse.
Project description:Aim of the experiment was to characterize the gene activation profile<br><br>induced within immature myeloid DCs by cell-cell contact with activated<br><br>invariant NKT cells under steady-state conditions.
Project description:Invariant Natural killer T (iNKT) cells are a separate lineage of T lymphocytes with innate effector functions. They express an invariant TCR specific for lipids presented by CD1d and their development and effector differentiation rely on a unique gene expression program. We asked whether this program includes microRNAs, small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression posttranscriptionally and play key role in the control of cellular differentiation programs. We identified a miRNA profile specific for iNKT cells, which exhibits features of activated/effector T lymphocytes. In this experiment we compared microRNAs of NKT cells versus those of conventional T lymphocytes, both extracted from wild type mouse thymus. To produce the populations we enriched mature thymocytes and then sorted NKT cells and conventional T cells (from one sorting we obtain one â??NKTâ?? sample and one â??Tâ?? sample). We performed the experiment in triplicate; the sample NKT 1 was sorted the same day of the sample T 1, NKT 2 with T 2, NKT 3 with T 3. We used a common reference approach for the 6 samples; as a common reference we produced RNA from total thymocytes, without the enrichment for mature cells and without the sorting; we pooled thymocytes derived from all the thymi used in the study. The aim of the experiment was to demonstrate that NKT cells have a microRNA profile different from that of conventional T cells.
Project description:We report the application of single-molecule-based sequencing technology for mapping the Egr2 transcriptional program in developing thymic NKT. We found that Egr2 controls the induction of genes required for NKT development. Examination of developing NKT cells and thymocytes receiving a strong TCR signal in vivo by injecting 500ug anti-TCRb antibody.
Project description:We report the identification of immature thymic CD4(-),CD8(-) double-negative (DN)1e cells with the NKT cell lineage potential. We also analyzed the gene expression profiles of DN1e thymocytes compared with those of mature thymic NKT cell developmental stages termed NKT stage-1, 2, and -3, which are characterized by differential expression levels of NK1.1 and CD44 antigens in C57BL/6J mouse strain.
Project description:We report the identification of immature thymic CD4(-),CD8(-) double-negative (DN)1e cells with the NKT cell lineage potential. We also analyzed the gene expression profiles of DN1e thymocytes compared with those of mature thymic NKT cell developmental stages termed NKT stage-1, 2, and -3, which are characterized by differential expression levels of NK1.1 and CD44 antigens in C57BL/6 mouse strain. Next generation sequencing of total transcriptomes using total RNA isolated from FACS sorted ex vivo thymic DN1eP (Lin-/CD44+/CD25-/CD24low/CD5+/CD27+/Ly108-/CXCR3+) fraction, and mature thymic alphaGalCer-loaded CD1d dimer+TCRbeta+ NKT cell developmental stage-1 (CD44-/NK1.1-), stage-2 (CD44+/NK1.1-), and stage-3 (CD44+/NK1.1+) cells.
Project description:Natural killer T (NKT) cells are positively selected on cortical thymocytes expressing the non-classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I CD1d molecules. However, it is less clear how NKT cells are negatively selected in the thymus. In this study, we investigated the role of MHC class II expression in NKT cell development. Transgenic mice expressing MHC class II on thymocytes and peripheral T cells had a marked reduction in invariant NKT (iNKT) cells. Reduced numbers of iNKT cells correlated with the absence of in vivo production of cytokines in response to the iNKT cell agonist alpha-galactosylceramide. Using mixed bone marrow chimeras, we found that MHC class II-expressing thymocytes suppressed the development of iNKT cells in trans in a CD4-dependent manner. Our observations have significant implications for human iNKT cell development as human thymocytes express MHC class II, which can lead to an inefficient selection of iNKT cells.
Project description:We compared splenic Va14i NKT cells from C57BL/6 control mice and from mice injected 4 weeks earlier intravenously with 4ug/mouse of the iNKT cell antigen alpha-galactosylceramide (aGalCer). These mice were either left unstimulated or were stimulated with 1ug/mouse aGalCer i.v.. All mice were female and 8 weeks of age at the beginning of the experiment. Va14i NKT cells were enriched via magnetic selection and cell sorted for TCRb+ CD1d/aGalCer-tetramer+. Total RNA were prepared using a Qiagen RNeasy mini kit. IVT probe generation and hybridization to Affymetrix Mouse Genome 430 2.0 arrays was carried out by the Veterans Medical Research Foundation GeneChipTM Microarray located at UCSD. Group 1 (Ctr_unstim) = iNKT cells from C57BL/6 control mice and left unstimulated / Group 2 (Ctr_stim) = iNKT cells from C57BL/6 control mice and injected 1h before purification with 1ug aGalCer i.v. / Group 3 (Pre_unstim) = iNKT cells from C57BL/6 mice injected 4weeks earlier with 4ug aGalCer i.v. and left unstimulated / Group 4 (Pre_stim) = iNKT cells from C57BL/6 mice injected 4weeks earlier with 4ug aGalCer i.v. and injected 1h before purification with 1ug aGalCer i.v. / Sample were prepared in duplicates in two independent experiments.
Project description:We compared splenic Va14i NKT cells from C57BL/6 control mice and from mice injected 4 weeks earlier intravenously with 4ug/mouse of the iNKT cell antigen alpha-galactosylceramide (aGalCer). These mice were either left unstimulated or were stimulated with 1ug/mouse aGalCer i.v.. All mice were female and 8 weeks of age at the beginning of the experiment. Va14i NKT cells were enriched via magnetic selection and cell sorted for TCRb+ CD1d/aGalCer-tetramer+. Total RNA were prepared using a Qiagen RNeasy mini kit. IVT probe generation and hybridization to Affymetrix Mouse Genome 430 2.0 arrays was carried out by the Veterans Medical Research Foundation GeneChipTM Microarray located at UCSD.