Abstract
Using genetic and phenotypic analyses, we have analyzed the developmental pathway of mouse CD1d-restricted invariant NKT cells. We provide strong evidence that similar to conventional T cells, positive selection of NKT cells occurs during a CD4+CD8+ stage. Later stages of NKT cell development involved the down-regulation of both TCR and CD4 levels and therefore diverge from conventional T cell development pathways. A unique and complete dependency for development on Fyn, a Src family kinase member, also distinguishes the NKT cell and conventional T cell populations.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 3542-3552 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | European Journal of Immunology |
Volume | 34 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2004 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology
Keywords
- CD1d
- T cell receptor
- Thymus
- iNKT cells