Differential requirements for the Ets transcription factor Elf-1 in the development of NKT cells and NK cells

作者：Choi Hak Jong; Geng Yanbiao; Cho Hoonsik; Li Sha; Giri Pramod Kumar; Felio Kyrie; Wang Chyung Ru^*

来源：Blood, 2011, 117(6): 1880-1887.

DOI：10.1182/blood-2010-09-309468.

E26 Transformation specific (Ets) family transcription factors control the expression of a large number of genes regulating hematopoietic cell development and function. Two such transcription factors, Ets-1 and myeloid Elf-1-like factor (MEF), have been shown to play critical roles in both natural killer (NK)- and NKT-cell development, but not in the development of conventional T cells. In this study, we address the role of E74-like factor 1 (Elf1), another Ets family transcription factor that is closely related to MEF but divergent from Ets-1, in NK- and NKT-cell development using Elf-1-deficient (Elf-1(-/-)) mice. Whereas the proportion of NK cells in Elf-1(-/-) mice was normal, the proportion of NKT cells was significantly reduced in the thymus and periphery of Elf-1(-/-) mice compared with wild- type (WT) mice. Although Ets-1(-/-) deficient mice lack NKT cells altogether, Elf-1(-/-) mice exhibited only a partial block in NKT-cell development caused by a cell- intrinsic defect in the selection, survival, and maturation of NKT cells. In addition, residual NKT cells found in Elf-1-1(-/-) mice produced less cytokine upon antigen stimulation compared with WT NKT cells. Our data demonstrate that Elf- 1 plays an important and nonredundant role in the development and function of NKT cells, but is not involved in NK- cell development. (Blood. 2011;117(6):1880-1887)

• 出版日期2011-2-10
• 单位西北大学