T. Ohteki et al., SELECTIVELY IMPAIRED DEVELOPMENT OF INTESTINAL T-CELL RECEPTOR GAMMA-DELTA(-CELL RECEPTOR ALPHA-BETA(+) CELLS IN T-CELL FACTOR-1-DEFICIENT MICE() CELLS AND LIVER CD4(+) NK1(+) T), European Journal of Immunology, 26(2), 1996, pp. 351-355
T cell factor-1 (Tcf-l) is a transcription factor that binds to a sequ
ence motif present in several T cell-specific enhancer elements. In Tc
f-1-deficient (Tcf-l(-)) mice. thymocyte development is partially bloc
ked at the transition from the CD4(-)8(-) immature single-positive sta
ge to the CD4(+)8(+) double-positive stage. resulting in a marked decr
ease of mature peripheral T cells in lymph node and spleen. We report
here that the development of most intestinal TCR gamma delta(.) cells
and liver CD4(+)Nk1.l(+)TCR alpha beta (NKl(1)T) cells, which are beli
eved to be of extrathymic origin. is selectively impaired in Tcf-l mic
e. In contrast, thymic and thymus-derived (splenic) TCR gamma delta(+)
cells are present in normal numbers in Tcf-l mice. as are other T cel
l subsets in intestine and liver. Collectively. our data suggest that
Tcf-l is differentially required for the development of some extrathym
ic T cell subsets. including intestinal TCR gamma delta(+) cells and l
iver CD4(+) NKl(+)T cells.