Requirement for Valpha14 NKT cells in IL-12-mediated rejection of tumors.

Cui, J; Shin, T; Kawano, T; Sato, H; Kondo, E; Toura, I; Kaneko, Y; Koseki, H et al. · Science · 1997

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

A lymphocyte subpopulation, the Valpha14 natural killer T (NKT) cells, expresses both NK1.1 and a single invariant T cell receptor encoded by the Valpha14 and Jalpha281 gene segments. Mice with a deletion of the Jalpha281 gene segment were found to exclusively lack this subpopulation. The Valpha14 NKT cell-deficient mice could no longer mediate the interleukin-12 (IL-12)-induced rejection of tumors. Although the antitumor effect of IL-12 was thought to be mediated through natural killer cells and T cells, Valpha14 NKT cells were found to be an essential target of IL-12, and they mediated their cytotoxicity by an NK-like effector mechanism after activation with IL-12.

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