Abstract:Invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells are characterized by expression of a semi-invariant Vα14-Jα18 TCRα chain and NK lineage markers such as NK1.1. In the thymus, iNKT cell maturation coincides with NK1.1 up-regulation and paradoxically, the retention of the mature NK1.1+ subset. The signals involved in the retention of iNKT cells remain undefined. Here, we report that upregulation of the chemokine receptor CxCR3 on thymic iNKT cells serves to retain them in the thymus of adult mice. Strikingly, genetic del… Show more
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