VDUP1 Is Required for the Development of Natural Killer Cells

• DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2004.12.012
• Publication Date: 2005-02-23T12:14:19Z
• Authors: Kee Nyung Lee; Hyung-Sik Kang; Jun-Ho Jeon; Eun-Mi Kim; Suk-Ran Yoon; Hyunkeun Song; Chil-Youl Lyu; Zheng-Hao Piao; Sun-Uk Kim; Ying-Hao Han; Su-Sung Song; Young-Ho Lee; Kyu-Sang Song; Yong-Man Kim; Dae-Yeul Yu; Inpyo Choi
• Keywords: Mice, Knockout; 0301 basic medicine; B-Lymphocytes; Hyperplasia; T-Lymphocytes; Immunology; Cell Differentiation; Receptors, Interleukin-2; Cell Line; 3. Good health; Killer Cells, Natural; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Infectious Diseases; Thioredoxins; Gene Expression Regulation; Neoplasms; Immunology and Allergy; Animals; Humans; Carrier Proteins; Gene Deletion; Neoplasm Transplantation

Vitamin D3 upregulated protein 1 (VDUP1) is a stress-response gene that is upregulated by 1,25(OH)2D3 in tumor cells. The in vivo roles of VDUP1 were investigated by producing mice lacking VDUP1 (VDUP1-/- mice). VDUP1-/- mice showed minimal changes in the development of T and B cells, but there was a profound reduction in the numbers of natural killer (NK) cells. As well, these mice showed decreased NK activity. In the VDUP1-/- mice, the expression of CD122 was reduced, demonstrating that VDUP1 is required for CD122 expression and NK maturation. In addition, severe lymphoid hyperplasia in the small intestine was observed in VDUP1-/- mice. Taken together, these results suggest that VDUP1 is a critical factor for the development and function of NK cells in vivo.