Cytokines production of U5A2-13-positive T cells by stimulation with glycolipid α-galactosylceramide

We have previously established and reported a novel monoclonal antibody (mAb), U5A2-13, which recognizes a phenotypically similar population of natural killer (NK)-like T cells. Using U5A2-13 mAb, we now describe the functional properties of U5A2-13+ T cells in both NK1.1-positive or -negative mouse strains. Similar to NK1.1+ T cells, hepatic U5A2-13+ T cells of C57BL/6 (NK1.1+ strain) mice, but not U5A2-13– T cells, could be induced to produce large amounts of IL-4 and IFN-γ by stimulation with glycolipid α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) present on dendritic cells (DC) in a dose-dependent manner. The abundant production of these cytokines from U5A2-13+ T cells of BALB/c (NK1.1– strain) mice is similar to that noted in C57BL/6 mice. Cytokine production by cultures stimulated with DC of β2-microglobulin-deficient mice was significantly less than that of cultures stimulated with DC of intact mice. Overall, U5A2-13+ T cells recognize α-GalCer presented by CD1d, indicating that U5A2-13+ T cells can be used to analyze NK-like T cell function in various strains of mice.