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Semi-invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are self-reactive lymphocytes, yet how this lineage attains self-tolerance remains unknown. iNKT cells constitutively express high levels of Nr4a1-encoded Nur77, a transcription factor that integrates signal strength downstream of the T cell receptor (TCR) within activated thymocytes and peripheral T cells. The function of Nur77 in iNKT cells is unknown. Here we report that sustained Nur77 overexpression (Nur77tg) in mouse thymocytes abrogates iNKT cell development. Introgression of a rearranged Vα14-Jα18 TCR-α chain gene into the Nur77tg (Nur77tg;Vα14tg) mouse rescued iNKT cell development up to the early precursor stage, stage 0. iNKT cells in bone marrow chimeras that reconstituted thymic cellularity developed beyond stage 0 precursors and yielded IL-4-producing NKT2 cell subset but not IFN-γ-producing NKT1 cell subset. Nonetheless, the developing thymic iNKT cells that emerged in these chimeras expressed the exhaustion marker PD1 and responded poorly to a strong glycolipid agonist. Thus, Nur77 integrates signals emanating from the TCR to control thymic iNKT cell tolerance induction, terminal differentiation, and effector functions.

Original publication

DOI

10.1073/pnas.2001665117

Type

Journal article

Journal

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Publication Date

21/07/2020

Volume

117

Pages

17156 - 17165

Keywords

Nur77, development, function, iNKT cells, Animals, Cell Differentiation, Cells, Cultured, Immune Tolerance, Mice, Mice, Knockout, Natural Killer T-Cells, Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1, Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, Thymocytes