Figure 4
FACS-Analysis of spleen DX5+NKT cells revealed interstrain differences in several phenotypical markers between NK1.1-Balb/c and NK1.1+C57Bl/6 mice. In the NK1.1+ mice strain spleen DX5+NKT cells expressed less CD4 but more CD8 (A). Upon activation the TCRα/β down-regulation was confirmed. In addition to NK.1.1 more spleen DX5+NKT cells in C57Bl/6 mice were positive for CD94 (B). Maturation marker CD62L was slightly higher expressed in freshly-isolated spleen DX5+NKT cells in C57Bl/6 mice compared to Balb/c, whereas CD103 was less (C). Functional marker CD154 and CD178 were only little expressed in freshly-isolated spleen DX5+NKT cells in both mice strains (D). Upon stimulation spleen DX5+NKT cells in NK1.1+ C57Bl/6 mice displayed less up-regulation of CD154 compared to Balb/c. Results are given as mean + SEM. Experiments were repeated at least three times (* p < 0.05).