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pubmed:abstractText |
Natural killer (NK) cells are believed to achieve self-tolerance through the expression of self-MHC-specific inhibitory receptors, such as members of the Ly49 and CD94/NKG2 families. Individual Ly49 genes are stochastically expressed by NK subsets and are expressed in a monoallelic fashion, but little is known about the mechanisms underlying CD94/NKG2A expression. We show here that, like Ly49 genes, mouse Nkg2a is stochastically and monoallelically expressed. Thus, a single general mechanism controls expression of all known MHC-specific receptors by mouse NK cells. In addition, we find that DBA/2J mice are naturally CD94-deficient and do not express cell-surface CD94/NKG2A receptors, even on neonatal NK cells. Thus, self-tolerance of neonatal NK cells cannot be attributed to CD94/NKG2A expression. Taken together, the results lead to a reconsideration of current models of NK cell development and self-tolerance.
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