Figure 4.

mTOR controls NK cell maturation and homeostasis.

(a) Single cell suspension from various organs of NK-Mtor^WT/WT (NKp46^ICre) and NK-Mtor^−/− (NKp46^ICreMtor^lox/lox) mice were stained for NK1.1, CD3 and CD19. Representative flow cytometric analyzes out of 3 experiments are shown. Cell suspensions were numerated and the number of NK cell calculated. The bar graph shows the average number (+/− s.d.) of NK cells in BM, Spleen, Liver and Blood of NK-Mtor^WT/WT and NK-Mtor^−/− mice (average of n=3 mice in 3 independent experiments). (b) Representative flow cytometric analysis showing CD27 and CD11b expression on gated NK cells from the BM and Spleen of NK-Mtor^WT/WT and NK-Mtor^−/− mice . More than 10 experiments showed the same profile. (c) Representative histograms show KLRG1 expression on splenic NK cells of NK-Mtor^WT/WT and NK-Mtor^−/− mice . The bar graph shows the average percentage (+/− s.d.) of KLRG1 positive cells among BM and Spleen NK cells (n=4 mice in 3 independent experiments). (d) MFI of the indicated marker was measured on spleen CD11b⁻ NK cells from NK-Mtor^WT/WT and NK-Mtor^−/− mice. The bar graph shows the average of the ratio of MFIs (+/− s.d.) NK-Mtor^−/− over NK-Mtor^WT/WT NK cells for each marker (n=3 mice in 3 independent experiments). The grey line indicates a ratio of 1. (t-test, *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001).