Figure 1.

SFR deficiency severely affects NKT cell development. (A) Flow cytometric analysis of SFR expression on CD4⁻CD8⁻, CD4⁺CD8⁺, CD4⁺, and CD8⁺ cell populations in the thymus of WT mice. The corresponding SFR-deficient cells were used as a negative control. The data are representative of three experiments. Iso, isotype. (B) Representative flow cytometry plots and percentages and absolute numbers of the CD3⁺NK1.1⁺ NKT cell population (left) or the CD3⁺CD1d-Tet⁺ NKT cell population (right) in the thymus, spleen, and liver of the indicated mice. Data represent the mean ± SEM of 10–12 mice per group. ***, P < 0.001. (C) BM chimera assay. Representative flow cytometry plots (left) and percentages and absolute numbers (right) of the CD3⁺CD1d-Tet⁺ NKT cell population gated on either the WT (CD45.1⁺) or the SFR-deficient (CD45.2⁺) compartment. Data represent the mean ± SEM of three to four mice per group. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001. (D) The indicated mice were treated with Con A for 12 h, and PBS was used as a negative control. H&E staining of liver sections (left) and determination of serum enzyme AST and ALT units (right). The dashed line indicates the necrotic area. Bars, 100 µm. Data represent the mean ± SEM of four to seven mice per group. ***, P < 0.001.