MicroRNA-181a/b-1 Is Not Required for Innate γδ NKT Effector Cell Development

TY - JOUR

T1 - MicroRNA-181a/b-1 Is Not Required for Innate γδ NKT Effector Cell Development

AU - Sandrock, Inga

AU - Ziętara, Natalia

AU - Łyszkiewicz, Marcin

AU - Oberdörfer, Linda

AU - Witzlau, Katrin

AU - Krueger, Andreas

AU - Prinz, Immo

PY - 2015/12/16

Y1 - 2015/12/16

N2 - Thymic development of αβ T lymphocytes into invariant natural killer (NK) T cells depends on their selection via agonistic lipid antigen presented by CD1d. If successful, newly selected NKT cells gain effector functions already in the thymus. Some γδ T cell subsets also acquire effector functions in the thymus. However, it is not clear whether agonistic TCR stimulation is involved in thymic γδ T cell selection and development. Here we combine two genetic models to address this question. MiR-181a/b-1-/-mice, which show impaired agonistic T cell selection of invariant αβ NKT cells, were crossed to Tcrd-H2BeGFP reporter mice to monitor selection, intra-thymic expansion and differentiation of γδ T cells. We found that miR-181a/b-1-deficiency had no effect on numbers of thymic γδ T cell or on their differentiation towards an IL-17- or IFN-γ-producing effector phenotype. Also, the composition of peripheral lymph node γδ T cells was not affected by miR-181a/b-1-deficiency. Dendritic epidermal γδ T cells were normally present in knock-out animals. However, we observed elevated frequencies and numbers of γδ NKT cells in the liver, possibly because γδ NKT cells can expand and replace missing αβ NKT cells in peripheral niches. In summary, we investigated the role of miR-181a/b-1 for selection, intrathymic development and homeostasis of γδ T cells. We conclude that miR-181a/b-1-dependent modulation of T cell selection is not critically required for innate development of γδ NKT cells or of any other γδ T cell subtypes.

AB - Thymic development of αβ T lymphocytes into invariant natural killer (NK) T cells depends on their selection via agonistic lipid antigen presented by CD1d. If successful, newly selected NKT cells gain effector functions already in the thymus. Some γδ T cell subsets also acquire effector functions in the thymus. However, it is not clear whether agonistic TCR stimulation is involved in thymic γδ T cell selection and development. Here we combine two genetic models to address this question. MiR-181a/b-1-/-mice, which show impaired agonistic T cell selection of invariant αβ NKT cells, were crossed to Tcrd-H2BeGFP reporter mice to monitor selection, intra-thymic expansion and differentiation of γδ T cells. We found that miR-181a/b-1-deficiency had no effect on numbers of thymic γδ T cell or on their differentiation towards an IL-17- or IFN-γ-producing effector phenotype. Also, the composition of peripheral lymph node γδ T cells was not affected by miR-181a/b-1-deficiency. Dendritic epidermal γδ T cells were normally present in knock-out animals. However, we observed elevated frequencies and numbers of γδ NKT cells in the liver, possibly because γδ NKT cells can expand and replace missing αβ NKT cells in peripheral niches. In summary, we investigated the role of miR-181a/b-1 for selection, intrathymic development and homeostasis of γδ T cells. We conclude that miR-181a/b-1-dependent modulation of T cell selection is not critically required for innate development of γδ NKT cells or of any other γδ T cell subtypes.

KW - Animals

KW - Antigens, CD1d/metabolism

KW - Cell Differentiation/genetics

KW - Clonal Selection, Antigen-Mediated/genetics

KW - Immunity, Innate

KW - Immunophenotyping

KW - Liver/cytology

KW - Lymph Nodes/cytology

KW - Mice

KW - Mice, Knockout

KW - Mice, Transgenic

KW - MicroRNAs/genetics

KW - Natural Killer T-Cells/cytology

KW - Phenotype

KW - Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/metabolism

KW - T-Cell Antigen Receptor Specificity/immunology

KW - T-Lymphocyte Subsets/cytology

KW - Thymus Gland/cytology

U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0145010

DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0145010

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 26673421

VL - 10

SP - e0145010

JO - PLOS ONE

JF - PLOS ONE

SN - 1932-6203

IS - 12

ER -