IntroductionT cells with natural killer (NK) cell activity have been identified in both murine and human tissues. [1][2][3][4] Murine NKT cells typically express phenotypic markers found on T cells such as CD3 and the ␣T-cell receptor (TCR), as well as the NK markers NK1.1 and DX5. 5 Two populations of murine NKT cells have been described. One population either does not express the co-receptors CD4 or CD8 or are CD4 ϩ . These NKT cells express the invariant V␣14-J␣281 TCR and have been found in the liver, thymus, bone marrow (BM), and spleen with approximately 0.5 to 1.5 million cells per organ. [6][7][8] Functionally, CD4 ϩ NK1.1 ϩ NKT cells produce large amounts of interleukin 4 (IL-4) on activation. 8,9 Therefore, this population of IL-4-producing NKT cells are thought to play an important role in the regulation of immune responses, especially those of the T H 2 type. 10 CD4 ϩ NKT cells are positively selected by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-like molecule CD1d and associated -2 microglobulin since these cells are markedly reduced in mice deficient in these molecules. 9,[11][12][13] Recently, a second population of NKT cells has been described that expresses a variable TCR repertoire and is not dependent on CD1d for maturation and development. 14 In addition, these CD1d-independent splenic NKT cells expressed mainly CD8 or were double negative with respect to CD4 and CD8 expression. Approximately 1% to 2% of splenocytes from C57BL/6 mice are ␣TCR ϩ NK1.1 ϩ , and, of these cells, approximately 20% are CD8 ϩ . 14 Little is known about the function of this later population of CD8 ϩ NKT cells.T cells are readily expandable following mitogenic stimulation with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against the TCR complex. 15 The combination of anti-CD3 and IL-2 results in the expansion of murine and human T cells capable of lysing a variety of different tumor cell lines, some of which are resistant to NK cells. [16][17][18] The expanded cells also have in vivo antitumor cell activity against murine tumors 16,19 and human tumors transplanted into immunodeficient mice. 18,20 It has been demonstrated that T cells activated with anti-CD3 and IL-2 and cultured for 6 to 8 days have a decreased capacity for inducing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Both CD4 ϩ and CD8 ϩ cells were less likely to result in GVHD following activation with anti-CD3 and IL-2. 21 In this report we have used culture conditions that allow for the growth of large numbers of T cells that share functional and phenotypic properties with NK cells. Following activation and culture, ␣TCR ϩ , CD8 ϩ , and NK1.1 ϩ T cells with NK cell function are readily expandable. We characterize the phenotype, cytokine production, and in vitro and in vivo biological activity of this population of CD8 ϩ NKT cells that have antitumor activity yet limited capacity to cause GVHD.
Materials and methods
AnimalsBalb/c (H-2 d ), C57BL/6 (H-2 b ), B10.D2/nSnJ (H-2 d ), FVB/J (H-2 q ), and the following mice of C57BL/6 background, fas deficient, fas li...