Shared and distinct transcriptional programs underlie the hybrid nature of iNKT cells

Nadia R Cohen, Patrick J Brennan, Tal Shay, Gerald F Watts, Manfred Brigl, Joonsoo Kang, Michael B Brenner, Paul Monach, Susan A Shinton, Richard R Hardy, Radu Jianu, David Koller, Jim J Collins, Roi Gazit, Brian S Garrison, Derrick J Rossi, Kavitha Narayan, Katelyn Sylvia, Anne Fletcher, Kutlu G ElpekAngelique Bellemare-Pelletier, Deepali Malhotra, Shannon J Turley, J Adam Best, Jamie Knell, Ananda W Goldrath, Vladimir Jojic, Daphne Koller, Aviv Regev, Taras Kreslavsky, Natalie A Bezman, Joseph C Sun, Charlie C Kim, Lewis L Lanier, Jennifer C Miller, Brian D Brown, Miriam Merad, Emmanuel L Gautier, Claudia V Jakubzick, Gwendalyn L Randolph, Francis S Kim, Tata N Rao, Amy Wagers, Tracy S P Heng, Michio W Painter, Jeffrey A Ericson, Scott P Davis, Ayla Ergun, Michael Mingueneau, Diane Mathis, Christophe Benoist

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

105 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT cells) are innate-like T lymphocytes that act as critical regulators of the immune response. To better characterize this population, we profiled gene expression in iNKT cells during ontogeny and in peripheral subsets as part of the Immunological Genome Project. High-resolution comparative transcriptional analyses defined developmental and subset-specific programs of gene expression by iNKT cells. In addition, we found that iNKT cells shared an extensive transcriptional program with NK cells, similar in magnitude to that shared with major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted T cells. Notably, the program shared by NK cells and iNKT cells also operated constitutively in gammadelta T cells and in adaptive T cells after activation. Together our findings highlight a core effector program regulated distinctly in innate and adaptive lymphocytes.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)90-99
Number of pages10
JournalNature Immunology
Volume14
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes

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