Tcf3+/+Tcf12+/+Cd4cre- or Tcf3f/f
Tcf12f/f Cd4cre+ mice expressing a Vα14-Jα18 TCR transgene were characterized. (A) Flow cytometric analysis of iNKT cell frequency in Vα14-Jα18tg+Tcf3+/+Tcf12+/+Cd4cre- and Vα14-Jα18tg+Tcf3f/fTcf12f/fCd4cre+ lymphocytes from indicated tissues. Numbers indicate percentage of cells within the drawn gate. (B) Average frequency or (C) absolute number (±SEM) of CD1d-tet+TCRβ+ gated iNKT cells from the indicated genotype and tissue. (D) Flow cytometric analysis of CD1d-tet+CD24+ expression in the thymus and CD44+NK1.1+ expression by gated iNKT lymphocytes from the indicated genotype in the indicated tissue. (E) Average frequency and absolute number (±SEM) of maturation stages as defined by CD1d-tet and CD24 or CD44 and NK1.1 expression on CD1d-tet+TCRβ+ gated iNKT cells from the indicated genotype in the thymus. Stage 0 cells are defined by CD1d-tet+CD24+ expression. Gated CD1d-tet+CD24- cells define stages 1, 2 and 3. Graphs are the average of 11 mice from 8 independent experiments. Statistical significance was determined using unpaired two-tailed t test, ns = not significant, *, P < 0.05, **, P < 0.005, ***, P < 0.0005, ****, P < 0.0001.