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. 2020 Feb 20;9:F1000 Faculty Rev-127. [Version 1] doi: 10.12688/f1000research.21378.1

Figure 2. Model of T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling in the cortex for invariant natural killer T (iNKT) differentiation.

Figure 2.

In this model, TCR binding strength (avidity) during the cortical selection process steers stage 0 iNKT cells to specific cell fates. For iNKT cells, which express a semi-invariant TCR alpha chain, TCR beta chain usage can influence TCR binding avidity. For example, Vβ2 and Vβ7 chains tend to confer higher binding avidity. TCRs with high avidity drive NKT2 differentiation preferentially, TCRs with intermediate binding avidity drive NKT17 differentiation, and those with low binding avidity drive commitment to the NKT1 pathway. NKT progenitor (NKTp) cells finish their differentiation in the medulla.