Selectively impaired development of intestinal T cell receptor γδ⁺ cells and liver CD4⁺ NK1⁺ T cell receptor αβ⁺ cells in T cell factor-1-deficient mice

T cell factor-1 (Tcf-1) is a transcription factor that binds to a sequence motif present in several T cell-specific enhancer elements. In Tcf-1-deficient (Tcf-1^-/-) mice. thymocyte development is partially blocked at the transition from the CD4⁺8⁺ immature single-positive stage to the CD4⁺8⁺ double-positive stage, resulting in a marked decrease of mature peripheral T cells in lymph node and spleen. We report here that the development of most intestinal TCRγδ⁺ cells and liver CD4⁺ NK1.1⁺TCRαβ⁺ (NK1^-T) cells, which are believed to be of extrathymic origin, is selectively impaired in Tcf-1^-/- mice. In contrast, thymic and thymus-derived (splenic) TCRγδ⁺ cells are present in normal numbers in Tcf-1^-/- mice, as are other T cell subsets in intestine and liver. Collectively, our data suggest that Tcf-1 is differentially required for the development of some extrathymic T cell subsets, including intestinal TCRγδ⁺ cells and liver CD4⁺ NK1⁺ T cells.