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Published on: December 23, 2016
Heterogeneity in phenotype and function of CD8+ and CD4/CD8 double-negative Natural Killer T cell subsets in sooty
Namita Rout1, James G Else, Simon Yue
1New England Primate Research Center, Harvard Medical School, Southborough, MA, USA.
Background:
We have recently reported the presence of CD8(+) and CD4/8 double-negative (DN) natural killer T (NKT) lymphocytes in sooty mangabeys. To investigate differences in the two NKT cell subsets, we compared the phenotype and function of sooty mangabey CD8(+) and DN NKT cells.
Methods:
Flow-sorted NKT lymphocytes from one SIV-negative sooty mangabey were subjected to limiting dilution cloning. Invariant NKT clones were characterized by flow cytometry and cytokine ELISA.
Results:
The majority of NKT clones displayed an effector memory phenotype and expressed CXCR3 and NKG2D. While CD8(+) NKT subsets expressed significantly higher levels of granzyme B and perforin and produced more IFN-gamma, the DN NKT subsets secreted significantly more IL-4, IL-13, and IL-10.
Conclusions:
The Th1 and Th2 cytokine bias of CD8(+) and DN NKT cells, respectively, indicates the presence of functionally heterogeneous populations of NKT cells in sooty mangabeys.
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