Korean J Immunol.  1999 Sep;21(3):291-296.

Diverse Expression of NK Cell Receptor between Fetal Thymocytes and Fetal Liver Lymphocytes from the Same Individuals

• Choi IH
• Shin JS
• Kim SJ
• Kim JD
• Kwon DH
• Lee JG
• Park HW

Abstract

Fetal thymus may be the organ for NK cell maturation, but the in vivo evidences are few, Here, by analyzing NK cell receptor, we present that NK cells develop in fetal thymus and fetal liver and that NK cell receptor appears earlier than the expression CD16 or CD56. Moreover, the finding that the repertoire of NK cell receptor is different between fetal thymus and fetal liver lymphocytes suggests that the environmental factors may influence the NK cell receptor repertoire during NK cell maturation.

Keyword

Nk cell receptor; p58; Fetal thymocytes; Fetal liver lymphocytes

MeSH Terms

Killer Cells, Natural*
Liver*
Lymphocytes*
Thymocytes*
Thymus Gland