[The function and role of extrathymic T cells]

Murine liver contains alpha beta T cells with intermediate TCR (TCRint) as well as alpha beta T cells with bright TCR. Liver TCRint cells express NK1.1 Ag (NK1+ TCRint) and IL-2 receptor beta chain, both of which are NK cell markers and are not expressed on conventional T cells. Liver NK1+ TCRint cells consist of CD4-8- double negative T cells and CD4+ T cells and have V beta 8+ T cell preponderance. They are dependent on class Ib or CD1 molecules of APC for their development. They can also develop thymus independent manner, because athymic nude mice have this population. These NK1+ TCRint cells in the livers of both euthymic and athymic mice were found to be activated by systemic administration of IL-12 and increased NK1 expression (NK1high TCRint) and cytotoxicity against various NK-sensitive and resistant tumors. Cytotoxicity assays after treatment of IL-12 stimulated hepatic MNC with respective Abs and C revealed that CD4+ NK1high TCRint cells are responsible for IL-12 induced cytotoxicity. Although NK1+ TCRint cells were normally few in the lungs, a significant proportion of NK1high TCRint cells with strong cytotoxicity was also induced in the lung by IL-12. Interestingly, adoptive transfer of IL-12 stimulated hepatic MNC into other mice, which were pre-injected with tumors, inhibits hepatic metastases of EL4 cells and pulmonary metastases of 3LL cells as similarly as IL-12 administration. Transfer experiments after treatment of IL-12 stimulated hepatic MNC with respective Ab and C revealed that depletion of either NK1+ cells, CD3+ cells or CD4+ cells but not CD8+ cells greatly impaired antimetastatic effect in both organs. Thus, CD4+ NK1high TCRint cells are a major antimetastatic population, especially, against hematogenous metastases.