Requirement for membrane lymphotoxin in natural killer cell development
Requirement for membrane lymphotoxin in natural killer cell development
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DOI:
10.1073/pnas.96.11.6336
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发表时间:
1999-05-25
影响因子:
11.1
通讯作者:
Fu, YX
中科院分区:
文献类型:
--
作者:
Iizuka, K;Chaplin, DD;Fu, YX
Development of natural killer (NK) cells is thought to depend on interactions between NK progenitors and the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment; however, little is known about the molecular signals involved. Here we show that lymphotoxin (LT) provides an important signal for the development of both NK cells and NK/T cells. LT alpha(-/-) mice show marked reduction in splenic and BM NK and NWT cell numbers and dramatically impaired NK and NWT cell function. Mice deficient in either tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)-I or TNFR-II have normal numbers of NK and NK/T cells, implying that neither of the TNFRs nor soluble LT alpha(3) is required for development of these cell types. Reciprocal BM transfers between LT alpha(-/-) and mild-type mice suggest that close interactions between membrane LT-expressing NK cell precursors and LT-responsive radioresistant stromal cells are necessary for NK cell development. When LT-deficient BM cells are incubated with IL-15, NK cells are formed. In addition, LT deficient BM cells produce IL-15 after activation. Thus, membrane LT appears to deliver a signal for NK cell development that is either independent of IL-15 or upstream in the IL-15 pathway, These results reveal a novel function for membrane LT in NK and NK/T cell development. They also support a cellular and molecular mechanism by which NK cell precursors themselves deliver essential signals, through the membrane ligand, that induce the microenvironment to promote further NK cell and NK/T cell development.