Figure 5.

mTOR is necessary for NK cell optimal fitness, proliferation in the BM and maximal response to IL-15.

(a) Flow cytometric analyzes show AnnexinV and 7-AAD staining of splenic NK cells from NK-Mtor^WT/WT and NK-Mtor^−/− mice. One representative experiment out of 3 is shown. The bar graph shows average percentages (+/− s.d.) of viable cells (AnnexinV-7-AAD-) in the different NK cell subsets from NK-Mtor^WT/WT and NK-Mtor^−/− mice (n=3 mice in 3 independent experiments). (b) Flow cytometric analyzes show BrdU staining of CD11b^lo subset BM NK cells from NK-Mtor^WT/WT and NK-Mtor^−/− mice. One representative experiment out of 3 is shown. The bar graph shows average percentages (+/− s.d.) of BrdU positive cells (n=6 mice in 3 independent experiments). (c) Histograms represent expression of CD122, CD132 and pSTAT5 in CD11b^lo BM NK cells from NK-Mtor^WT/WT and NK-Mtor^−/− mice. MFI values are indicated. One representative experiment out of 4 with 1 mouse in each is shown. (d) Splenocytes from NK-Mtor^WT/WT and NK-Mtor^−/− mice were cultured with graded concentrations of IL-15 for 1 h. Cells were stained and the averaged MFI (+/− s.d.) of pSTAT5 in NK cells is given as percentage of the maximal response (n=3 independent experiments using 1 mouse in each). (t-test, *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001, ns = non significant).