Gene expression profiling of CD244+CXCR6+ C2 iNKT cell subet and CD244-CXCR6+ C1 iNKT cell subset

We identified a novel subset of iNKT cells, C2 iNKT cells, that circulate in the periphery. Correspondingly, we characterized the tissue-resident iNKT cell subset, C1 iNKT cells. The development and terminal maturation of C2 iNKT cells completely depended on the thymic epithelial IL-15 niche, whereas C1 iNKT cells were regulated also by local IL-15 niches in peripheral tissues. C2 iNKT cells expressed high levels of genes related to cytotoxicity and exhibited more NK cell-like features. Functionally, C2 iNKT cells regulated self-antigen expression for immune tolerance in the thymus and mediated cancer immunosurveillance in the periphery. Examination one hundred of each subset of iNKT cells freshly sorted from thymus and lung of mice at 6 weeks